[Chlorbutin, azathioprine, D-penicillamine and levamisole (decaris) in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. IV. Comparative evaluation of their effects on systemic (extra-articular) manifestations of the disease].

The authors studied and compared the action of chlorbutin, azathioprin, of large and mean doses of D-penicillamine and levamisole with that of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NAID) on rheumatoid arthritis systemic manifestations in 186 patients treated with these drugs for more than 3 months. It was shown that the basic drug compared very favourably with NAID. The cytostatics and levamisole were discovered to be highly efficacious. The authors believe that if the patients are afflicted with alveolitis and rheumatoid nephropathy, this should be regarded as indication for use of chlorbutin and levamisole.