PMID- 12022344
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20021119
LR  - 20131121
IS  - 0315-162X (Print)
IS  - 0315-162X (Linking)
VI  - 29
IP  - 5
DP  - 2002 May
TI  - Serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 levels during treatment with sulfasalazine or 
      combination of methotrexate and sulfasalazine in patients with early rheumatoid 
      arthritis.
PG  - 883-9
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of treatment with sulfasalazine (SSZ) or the 
      combination of methotrexate (MTX) and SSZ on serum matrix metalloproteinase 3 
      (MMP-3) levels in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: 
      Eighty-two patients with early RA (symptoms < 1 year and DMARD-naive at 
      presentation) were selected who had been treated with SSZ (2000 mg/day) or with 
      the combination of MTX (7.5-15 mg/week) and SSZ. Serum MMP-3 levels, C-reactive 
      protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), swollen joint count (SJC), 
      tender joint count (TJC), Ritchie articular index (RAI), and the Disease Activity 
      Score (DAS) were determined at 4 week intervals during a followup of 28 weeks for 
      each treatment group. Response was based on clinical grounds and CRP at 12, 20, 
      and 28 weeks. RESULTS: SSZ responders (n = 52) had lower baseline values of serum 
      MMP-3, CRP, and ESR, compared to partial/nonresponders (n = 30), but did not 
      differ in joint scores and DAS. In the SSZ responder group all variables 
      decreased. In the SSZ partial/nonresponders, CRP, ESR, and SJC decreased in 
      contrast to serum MMP-3, TJC. RAI, and DAS-3. After addition of MTX all variables 
      decreased in 24 of the 30 patients who had shown a partial or no response taking 
      SSZ. In the SSZ responders there was a delayed decrease in serum MMP-3 compared 
      to CRP. CONCLUSION: Serum MMP-3 levels decrease in patients with early RA who 
      respond to SSZ or to the combination of MTX and SSZ. In patients who respond to 
      SSZ the changes in serum MMP-3 levels indicate a delayed response compared to 
      CRP.
FAU - Posthumus, Marcel D
AU  - Posthumus MD
AD  - Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. 
      m.posthumus@int.azg.nl
FAU - Limburg, Pieter C
AU  - Limburg PC
FAU - Westra, Johanna
AU  - Westra J
FAU - van Leeuwen, Miek A
AU  - van Leeuwen MA
FAU - van Rijswijk, Martin H
AU  - van Rijswijk MH
LA  - eng
PT  - Clinical Trial
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PL  - Canada
TA  - J Rheumatol
JT  - The Journal of rheumatology
JID - 7501984
RN  - 0 (Antirheumatic Agents)
RN  - 3XC8GUZ6CB (Sulfasalazine)
RN  - 9007-41-4 (C-Reactive Protein)
RN  - EC 3.4.24.17 (Matrix Metalloproteinase 3)
RN  - YL5FZ2Y5U1 (Methotrexate)
SB  - IM
MH  - Adult
MH  - Aged
MH  - Antirheumatic Agents/*administration & dosage
MH  - Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood/*drug therapy
MH  - C-Reactive Protein/metabolism
MH  - Cohort Studies
MH  - Drug Therapy, Combination
MH  - Female
MH  - Follow-Up Studies
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/*blood
MH  - Methotrexate/*administration & dosage
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Prospective Studies
MH  - Sulfasalazine/*administration & dosage
EDAT- 2002/05/23 10:00
MHDA- 2002/11/26 04:00
CRDT- 2002/05/23 10:00
PHST- 2002/05/23 10:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2002/11/26 04:00 [medline]
PHST- 2002/05/23 10:00 [entrez]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Rheumatol. 2002 May;29(5):883-9.