Impact of Spironolactone on Das-28 in Naive Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical efficacy (DAS-28) of spironolactone when added to continuing regimen of Disease-Modifying anitrheumatic durgs (DMARDs) therapy in 28 naive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, who failed to respond adequately on monotherapy or combination of conventional disease modifying agents. METHODS: A distinct study on 28 patients of 24 weeks was designed to gain additional data concerning the use of spironolactone (2 mg/kg/day) in RA patients. Modified Disease Activity score (DAS-28) Score at zero week, 12 weeks and 24 weeks were calculated statistically. Differences in parameters before and after spironolactone treatment were examined by 2-tailed paired student t-test. Results were considered significant at 95% level (p≤0.05) and presented as mean ± SEM. RESULTS: The modified disease activity score (DAS-28) at the baseline (0 week) 10.7% (n=3) and 89.3% (n=25) of patient had DAS-28 score 3.2- 5.1 (Moderate disease activity) and DAS-28 score 5.1 (severe disease activity), respectively. None had low disease activity (DAS-28 score