To determine the efficacy and safety of a platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist, BN 50730, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Ten patients with an active disease were treated for 4 weeks with a PAF receptor antagonist, BN 50730, given orally (40 mg twice daily). The treatment period was followed by a 4 weeks followup period.
Clinical indicators of disease activity significantly improved during the treatment period, with a progressive return to baseline values during the followup period. No significant change in laboratory variables was observed. The tolerance of the treatment was excellent, and no clinical or laboratory evidence of side effects was recorded.
These results need to be confirmed in a controlled study, but suggest an antiinflammatory effect. PAF antagonists could represent a new class of therapeutic agents in inflammatory arthropathies.