Rheumajecta and vasolastine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis--the results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of a complementary treatment.

The so called "enzymatic preparations" Rheumajecta and Vasolastine (R & V) belong to the complementary treatments. The preparations have been used for many years in the treatment of patients with rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Netherlands and other countries of Europe, although a proper study showing efficacy was never performed. Therefore a double-blind, placebo-controlled, modified cross-over trial during two periods of 3 months was performed in 34 patients with RA. They were allocated at random to R & V or to placebo injections, all intramuscular. After 3 months of therapy each patient could opt for cross-over in the event of lack of subjective improvement. Clinical assessments including Ritchie's articular index, grip strength, the DUTCH-AIMS questionnaire, ESR and CRP were performed. R & V did not prove to be more effective than placebo. No serious side-effects were seen.

[Rheumajecta and Vasolastine treatment of primary fibromyalgia; results of a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study]. / Behandeling met Rheumajecta en Vasolastine van primaire fibromyalgie; resultaten van een gerandomiseerd, placebo-gecontroleerd, dubbelblind onderzoek.

Rheumajecta and Vasolastine (R and V) are preparations belonging to complementary medicine. They are applied in rheumatic conditions such as primary fibromyalgia. In this double-blind, modified cross-over trial, the effect of R and V injections was compared with that of placebo over two periods of three months in 30 patients with primary fibromyalgia. No significant differences in effectiveness between R and V and placebo were seen. There were no serious side-effects. R and V are not indicated for primary fibromyalgia unless no more effect than that of placebo is intended.

Rheumajecta in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

A double-blind controlled trial of Rheumajecta in rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated lack of effect of this compound and unacceptable side-effects. It was not felt ethically justifiable to complete the trial.