ABSTRACT
AIM: To specify causes of discontinuation of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMAD) used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by the results of special questionnaire survey. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 298 RA patients treated in the Institute of Rheumatology (34 males and 264 females aged 18-82, mean age 54.6%, duration of the disease 1 to 38 years, mean 10.7 years) who responded to questioning. RESULTS: The following DMAD were used: metotrexate (n = 137), sulfasalasine (n = 49), aminoquinoline drugs (n = 33), chlorbutin (n = 19), azathioprin (n = 13), tauredon (n = 11), cyclophosphamide (n = 5). The drugs were discontinued due to unwanted effects in 50, 10, 46, 9, 4, 3, 3 (methotrexate, sulfasalasin, aminoquinolines, chlorbutin, azathioprin, Ag salts, cyclophosphamide, respectively). Cyclophosphamide and chlorbutin appeared most toxic, while sulfasalasine and aminoquinolines were found least effective. CONCLUSION: DMAD discontinuation rate ranges from 12.1% (aminoquinolines) to 60% (cyclophosphamide), mean 31.1%.
