Correlation between clinical and laboratory findings when the whole blood filterability rate is modified by ticlopidine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

This double-blind study assessed the effects of oral ticlopidine versus placebo on whole blood filterability in two homogenous groups of 20 rheumatoid arthritis patients taking one NSAID. The patients' clinical progress was monitored to see if modifications in the whole blood filterability rate could be correlated with any improvement in the clinical picture. Our results showed treatment with ticlopidine significantly (p less than 0.01) improved both the ESR (-28%) and the whole blood filterability rate (-15%), pain (-24%), and morning stiffness (-28%). These clinical benefits correlated with improvement in the whole blood filterability rate. Clinical benefits may have resulted from improved perfusion and transport of NSAID to target tissues.