[Efficacy of D-penicillamine and methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in relation to levels of circulating rheumatoid factors of different classes]. / Effektivnost' D-penitsilamina i metotreksata pri lechenii revmatoidnogo artrita v zavisimosti ot urovnia revmatoidnykh faktorov raznykh klassov.

AIM: To optimize treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to define indications for D-penicillamine and methotrexate therapies on an individual basis by taking into account the levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) isotopes circulating in blood. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 105 patients (mean age 46.39 +/- 1.35 years) with varying RA were observed. Indirect solid-phase enzyme immunoassay was used to analyze RF isotopes; the pattern of the disease and the efficiency of therapy for RA were compared with the patients' immunity. RESULTS: With elevated RF IgG levels, the cardiovascular system, thyroid, mucous membranes were found to be more frequently impaired and vasculitis was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: The use of cuprenil and methotrexate in RA substantially improves patients' immunity.