Sulphasalazine therapy in ankylosing spondylitis: its effect on disease activity, immunoglobulin A and the complex immunoglobulin A-alpha-1-antitrypsin
Davis, M.J.; Dawes, P.T.; Beswick, E.; Lewin, I.V.; Stanworth, D.R.
British Journal of Rheumatology 28(5): 410-413
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0263-7103 PMID: 2571386 Document Number: 341171
Serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and the complex immunoglobulin A-.alpha.1 antitrypsin (IgA-.alpha.1AT) were measured at the commencement and after 3 months of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of sulphasalazine (SAS) in patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Twenty-eight patients were evaluated, 15 on sulphasalazine, 13 on placebo. Significant falls were seen in both IgA (p < 0.01) and IgA-.alpha.1AT (p < 0.001) in the actively treated patients. In addition, significant improvement in clinical and laboratory measures of disease were observed. It is concluded that SAS is effective in AS and modulates the immune response.