Azathioprine in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

In 1973 we reported the beneficial effects of azathioprine in a double blind, cross‐over study in 17 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis. During subsequent follow‐up over a mean period of 40 months, 4 patients had discontinued therapy because of poor therapeutic response and 1 because of nausea. Eleven of the 12 patients still taking azathioprine had maintained their initial beneficial response or showed further improvement. Adverse side effects during the follow‐up period were minor. They included nausea in 1 patient and leukopenia with thrombocytopenia in another. An increased incidence of chromosomal abormalities was detected in those patients still receiving azathioprine.