23573
document
Double blind , placebo controlled study of metronidazole as a disease modifying agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis . Anecdotal reports suggest that metronidazole may have disease modifying activity in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis . To assess possible beneficial effects a double blind , comparative trial of metronidazole and placebo was performed . Fifty patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly allocated to receive active drug ( n = 24 ) or placebo ( n = 26 ) and reviewed at weeks 0 , 1 , 4 , 8 , 12 , 16 , and 24 . Detailed assessment of drug safety , biochemical and haematological parameters , and efficacy was made at these dates . Dose regimen was 400 mg twice daily from weeks 0 to eight , increasing to 400 mg three times a day from weeks nine to 24 provided that no adverse effects were recorded . Most patients were unable to tolerate metronidazole because of side effects or lack of efficacy , with only five ( 21 % ) continuing to take the drug at 24 weeks . For those patients attaining 12 weeks of treatment an overall improvement in articular index and morning stiffness was found . No improvement in laboratory indices of disease activity was seen , however . In this study metronidazole did not have disease modifying properties and was unacceptably toxic .
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Intervention_Control
placebo
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Intervention_Pharmacological
metronidazole
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Intervention_Pharmacological
active drug
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Outcome_Other
beneficial effects
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Outcome_Other
Detailed assessment
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Outcome_Other
drug safety ,
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Outcome_Physical
biochemical and haematological parameters
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Outcome_Other
efficacy
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Outcome_Other
tolerate metronidazole
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
side effects
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Outcome_Other
lack of efficacy
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Outcome_Other
overall improvement in articular index
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
morning stiffness
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Outcome_Other
improvement
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Outcome_Other
laboratory indices of disease activity
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Outcome_Physical
disease modifying properties
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Outcome_Adverse-effects
unacceptably toxic .
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Participant_Condition
metronidazole as a disease modifying agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis .