A double blind, placebo controlled study of a platelet activating factor antagonist in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a platelet activating factor-acether (PAF) antagonist, BN 50730, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: A total of 56 patients with active RA were enrolled in a multicenter, double blind, placebo controlled study of BN 50730. Patients received either BN 50730 (40 mg orally bid) or placebo for 84 days. RESULTS: Treatment with BN 50730 resulted in no improvement and was no more effective than placebo in improving clinical and biological indices of RA activity. Adverse events were observed in the 2 treatment groups, and BN 50730 was generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: PAF antagonist BN 50730 at a daily dose of 80 mg was ineffective in the treatment of RA.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with platelet activating factor antagonist BN 50730.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of a platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist, BN 50730, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: 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.