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Biomedical subjects

R Rau

Publications and source records attributed to R Rau.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

[Treatment of chronic polyarthritis with low-dose methotrexate].

Methotrexate, 7.5-25.0 mg, was taken in a single weekly dose by 101 patients with chronic rheumatoid arthritis. In the course of treatment there was significant improvement in pain and mobility, as well as in the number of inflamed joints, strength of hand-grip (both hands), and use of steroids. There was a significant fall in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and haemoglobin content rose significantly. Improvement occurred in 85% of patients; within this group 30% had a remission during treatment. There were 7% non-responders. Side effects were frequent: gastrointestinal symptoms in about 50%, loss of hair and stomatitis in 10-20%. In nine patients methotrexate had to be discontinued because of side effects, but in six of them the drug was taken again later on. Transaminases increased in 50% of patients. No clear-cut histological changes were found in the liver. It is concluded that low-dose methotrexate is effective in the long-term treatment of chronic rheumatoid arthritis.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1988

Auranofin and gold sodium thiomalate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a one-year, double-blind, comparative multicenter study.

In a 48-week, double-blind trial, 122 patients were randomly assigned to treatment with auranofin (60) and gold sodium thiomalate (GST) (62) at five centers. Both groups showed significant improvement (P less than 0.05) from baseline in parameters of disease activity. Results of the covariance analysis for all patients who completed the trial showed no significant differences (P less than 0.05) in efficacy between the two groups. The proportions of patients showing 50% or greater improvement in tender joints, swollen joints, activity index, severity of pain, general health rating, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were similar for both auranofin-treated and GST-treated patients who completed the 48-week trial. When all patients who entered the trial were evaluated, a slightly greater proportion of patients on auranofin had improved. Diarrhea occurred more frequently with auranofin (32%) compared to GST (19%), whereas rash and pruritus were twice as common in those patients treated with GST compared to those treated with auranofin. The withdrawal rate due to adverse reactions was 10% for auranofin vs 26% for GST. It was concluded that the efficacy of auranofin was comparable to that of injectable gold and was better tolerated, as evidenced by the lower withdrawal rate from adverse events for the auranofin patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

[Diflunisal in the treatment of coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis. A comparative double-blind study with acetylsalicylic acid].

A double-blind study comparing the efficacy and safety of diflunisal (Unisal), a new derivative of salicylic acid, and acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) was conducted in the rheumatology clinics of the Cantonal Hospital Beau-Séjour, Geneva, and the Triemli City Hospital, Zurich. A total of 38 patients with established osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee were studied for 12 weeks. The daily dose of diflunisal was 500-750 mg and that of acetylsalicylic acid 2000-3000 mg. After 12 weeks diflunisal was judged superior to Aspirin by both patients and investigators. Among the most important clinical symptoms evaluated were pain and limitation of motion. Side effects, particularly gastro-intestinal symptoms, of sufficient severity to cause discontinuation of therapy were more frequent in the acetylsalicylic acid-treated patients than in the group receiving diflunisal.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

[Liver pathology in juvenile chronic polyarthritis].

Besides lymphodenopathy and splenomegaly, hepatomegaly may also be detected in 25-50% of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. This is particularly evident in patients with complete Still's syndrome. The hepatomegaly increases during relapse situations and disappears during remissions. Transient icterus, elevation of aminotransferases and delayed bromsulfalein excretion have been reported, particularly in patients with complete Still's syndrome, and indicate impairment of liver function. Liver biopsies have been performed only rarely and show nonspecific infiltrations of portal fields with lymphocytes and, in a few cases, "autoimmune" hepatitis and even cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Plasma cell hepatitis with affection of joints can be readily differentiated from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis: the synovitis is merely transiet and disappears with institution of steroid therapy. As in the adult, severe liver dysfunction leads to remission of arthritis. Amyloidosis should be considered in every case of long-lasting hepatomegaly.

Amyloidosis↗
PubMed1976

Esophageal function in progressive systemic sclerosis.

A prospective study was performed in 13 consecutive patients with systemic progressive sclerosis (PSS). For the diagnosis of impaired esophageal peristalsis cineradiography and manometry are equally useful. Esophageal suction biopsy allows the diagnosis of esophagitis but not of scleroderma. Mild to severe esophageal involvement was observed in 12 patients. In only one patient the esophagus was virtually normal. Dysfunction of the esophageal body may occur early in the course of the disease while incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter is observed on an average after 7 to 8 years. Both impairment of peristalsis and pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter may lead to delayed esophageal clearance. Relaxation of LES is normal even in the absence of primary peristalsis. Extensive esophageal damage including severe gastroesophageal reflux may be present in the absence of esophageal symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

[Observations of long-term treatment of arthrosis with naproxen].

In a previous open clinical trial with d-2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)-propionic acid (naproxen) in 32 outpatients with osteoarthrosis, very good to good results were achieved in 6 patients, satisfactory in 12, fair in 5, and unsatisfactory in 9 patients. The severest side effect observed was a case of gastric bleeding in a female patient who had been previously treated with a drug containing phenylbutazone and prednisone. Since, furthermore, 6 out of 9 such patients who did not respond to therapy had to stop the durg prematurely because of minor side effects and since in another 6 there was a tendency to a reduction of the leucocyte count, we subsequently initiated a long-term efficacy and tolerance study in our department for chronic patients. This series comprised 15 patients, aged 66 to 86 years, with severe, partly immobilizing coxarthroses and gonarthroses. The length of treatment was 2 to 16 months (mean 10.5 months). During the first 3 months ESR determinations and complete blood counts were performed every two weeks, later at four-weekly intervals. The patients were questioned weekly as to the efficacy of the treatment and as to side effects. Neither changes of the laboratory data nor gastro-intestinal side effects were observed. In two patients -- one a female with multiple allergies -- treatment had to be stopped because of itching and exanthema, respectively. The analgesic effect of naproxen was evaluated as very good in 5 cases, good in 5, fair in 2, and unsatisfactory in 3 cases. In addition, we conducted another clinical trial in 15 outpatients with degenerative joint diseases (partly of the spinal column). Their age varied from 16 to 60 years. Naproxen was administered in daily doses from 500 to 750 mg for the duration of 6 to 12 weeks. In no case had treatment to be interrupted, nor was there any gastric intolerance or alteration of the blood count observed in this group. Clinical results were classified as satisfactory to good in 10 patients.

Adult↗