Biochemical and clinical changes occurring during the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with novel antirheumatoid drugs.

Groups of 15 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis have been treated with sulphasalazine, (salazosulfapyridine INN), zinc sulfate, captopril or methyl cysteine, and assessed by seven clinical measurements and six laboratory methods on eight occasions during a 24-week treatment period. The results have been compared with equivalent data derived from the use of antiinflammatory agents (e.g. aspirin) and drugs of accepted 'antirheumatoid activity' (e.g. D-penicillamine). Improvements in mean data provide the basis of a human screening system for the detection of antirheumatoid drug activity. Results suggest that sulphasalazine and captopril have this type of activity whereas zinc sulfate and methyl cysteine do not.