[Change in functional capacity and pain intensity of 81 cP patients treated with Azulfidine RA or aurothioglucose. Preliminary statistical assessment of the German multicenter study of the treatment of chronic polyarthritis with Azulfidine RA].

A 36 week treatment with either salazosulfapyridine or aurothioglucose on 81 patients with definite and active rA, most of them from outpatient clinics, did not lead to significant differences in disability and pain intensity. Under both medications 40% were able to reach a statistically significant and clinically relevant improvement, while 25% remained in an unsatisfactory state.