A Prospective Study on Comparing the efficacy of Combination Therapy and Monotherapy of DMARDs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aim and Objective: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy over monotherapy of DMARDs [disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods and materials: A prospective study was conducted in 100 patients for a period of six months in which 50-patients of Group-A received single DMARD [methotrexate-7.5mg/week] and Group-B received the combination of DMARDs [methotrexate-7.5mg/week, sulfasalazine-1g/day and hydroxychloroquine-200mg/day]. In addition, with DMARD therapy all patients were allowed to take prednisolone-5mg daily. Results: In the present study, among 100 patients the highest number of patients were from the age group of 36 to 45 years. The efficacy analyses were based on 100 patients. At week-6, 60% of male patients and 70% of female patients from Group-A and 79% of male patients and 80% of female patients from Group-B had significant improvements in the clinical and laboratory parameters. Although, improvements were better and much more significant in the patients who were given combination therapy. The combination of methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine was more effective than monotherapy. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the combination therapy of DMARDs was more effective than monotherapy.