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Sulphasalazine in ankylosing spondylitis. A radiological, clinical and laboratory assessment

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Summary

In a 12-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial, the effect of sulphasalazine was studied in 40 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The treatment group showed significant improvement in pain, stiffness, sleep disturbance (p<0.05), finger/floor distance, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, orosomucoid and IgA levels (p<0.01). There was improvement in sleep disturbance (p<0.05), finger/floor distance and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p<0.01) in the placebo group. Sulphasalazine did not retard radiological progression as measured either by plain X-ray or computerised tomographic scans. Multiple analysis of variance did not show a significant difference in disease activity indicators between the 2 groups.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre, Haywood Hospital, High Lane, ST6 7AG, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

    H. G. Taylor, E. J. Beswick & P. T. Dawes

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  1. H. G. Taylor
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  2. E. J. Beswick
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  3. P. T. Dawes
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Taylor, H.G., Beswick, E.J. & Dawes, P.T. Sulphasalazine in ankylosing spondylitis. A radiological, clinical and laboratory assessment. Clin Rheumatol 10, 43–48 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02208032

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02208032

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