The use of the AIMS questionnaire in the evaluation of sulphasalazine treatment in rheumatoid arthritis.

For evaluation of a one-year open clinical trial with sulphasalazine, apart from monitoring clinical and laboratory parameters, the self-administered questionnaire AIMS (Arthritis Impact Measurement Scales) was used. This method makes it possible to obtain information on functional and psychosocial aspects of a patient's health status. The trial started with 30 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. During the trial, ten patients were withdrawn (eight for adverse reactions, two for inefficacy). In patients who completed the study, the results proved that over the course of 12 months' therapy with sulphasalazine, most of the scores obtained from AIMS gradually improved. Statistical correlation of standard clinical and laboratory parameters with health status measures was evident for most of these variables. These preliminary results suggest that a questionnaire of the AIMS type may be a useful means of outcome assessment of rheumatoid arthritis in clinical trials.