Scottish centres take part in major rheumatoid arthritis trial
A research group with centres in Glasgow, Inverness and Lanarkshire are to carry out a major clinical trial to establish the best treatment for patients with the crippling condition of rheumatoid arthritis.
The team, led by consultant rheumatologist Dr Hilary Capell at the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, will investigate whether a combination of the two most common drugs in use, methotrexate and sulphasalazine, is the best way of controlling the condition and reducing damage to joints, compared to either drug taken separately.
They have already recruited 350 patients onto the study, and another 250 are yet to be enrolled. The study is being supported by a grant of £113,300 by the Arthritis Research Campaign, which has already pumped £146,700 into the project.
Rheumatoid arthritis affects around 350,000 people in the UK, and causes inflammation in the lining of the joint, causing severe pain, swelling and stiffness. It is incurable, although can increasingly be effectively treated by a number of drug therapies.
"Treatment of other diseases such as cancer and heart disease have shown that the use of a number of drugs together can lead to substantial benefits," explained Dr Capell.
"This may also be true of rheumatoid arthritis. There are a number of advantages to this approach. The drugs are established treatments for RA and are widely available. The potential side effects of these drugs are well recognised and we know what routine monitoring is required. It is, however, important to know whether the combination of drugs is more effective than one given alone.
"Using a combination of drugs without good evidence is likely to lead to unnecessary exposure to side effects as well as extra drug and monitoring costs. On the other hand, not using two drugs might deprive RA patients of useful benefit."
The team hopes that if the results of the study are positive, more patients will have their disease controlled earlier and more effectively, minimising their symptoms and reducing the risk of disability.
The Arthritis Research Campaign is the fifth biggest medical research charity in the UK and in the past 12 months raised almost £23m to fund research, including in centres in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee as well as Glasgow.
