To determine the longterm morbidity and mortality in a cohort of 169 patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated by a single rheumatologist with remittive agents used in combination. The effectiveness of a regimen combining pulse oral methotrexate, azathioprine and an antimalarial drug (MAH) was examined in detail.
All outpatient visits by patients followed for at least one year and up to 18 years (mean 7 years) were abstracted. Remittive antirheumatic drugs were used in combination to achieve progressive improvement. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the differences between first and last visit results in 9 process or outcome variables were calculated for the entire cohort, for those patients receiving or not receiving MAH at last visit, and for those patients taking methotrexate but not in combination with both azathioprine and an antimalarial. The numbers of patients in remission (Lansbury articular index zero), and near remission (articular index < 6) were determined for each of these groups. A survival curve was calculated.
The entire patient cohort showed improvement in every variable except hemoglobin at the time of the last visit (p < 0.0004). On multivariate analysis MAH patients were improved only in American Rheumatism Association functional class compared to the other groups (p < 0.0001). Remission and near remission rates overall were 43 and 61%; for MAH patients 45 and 69% (p = n.s.). Survival was no different from that of the general population. Herpes zoster (17 patients) and second attacks of varicella (2 patients) were the most striking side effects. Prednisone use was reduced from 34 to 19% of patients and the mean daily dose was lowered from 9.3 to 5.9 mg.
Combination therapy with multiple antirheumatic agents successfully controlled joint inflammation in 167 of 169 patients with seropositive RA; complete remission was achieved in 43% of patients. Survival of this patient cohort did not differ from that of the general population.