To determine the clinical utility and the effect of sodium aurothiomalate (GSTM) on serum interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Open prospective study of 50 patients with RA treated with GSTM. Serum IL-6 measured by bioassay.
IL-6 showed correlations with Ritchie articular index, duration of morning stiffness and C-reactive protein. GSTM significantly reduced IL-6 levels.
IL-6 is a potentially useful additional indicator of disease activity in RA and is modulated by GSTM.