Bucillamine is a disease modifying antirheumatic drug(DMARD0 which has been recently developed for the treatment of rheumatodi arthritis(RA). It has been found to normalize the suppressor T cell ratio, reduce serum immunoglobulin levels, and devels, and decrease the rheumatoid factor, thus correcting several immunological abnormalities seen in RA. We analysed the 35 rheumatoid arthritis patients with RA according to the classification of the American College of Rheumatology who were treated with Bucillamine at Department of Orthopaedic Suragery, Kyung Hee University hospital from May, 1994 tio February, 199(follow up period : from 3 monbths to 1 year). The results were as follows:
1. Thirty were female(85.7%) and five were male(14.2%), with a mean age of 46.2 years at onset.
2. Seven patients(20%) were markedly improved, 18 patients(51.4%) were improved, eight patients(22.8%) did not change, two patients(5.7%) were aggravated.
3. Eighteen patients were improved after treatment after treatment with Bucillamine over three months, the mean age was 43.6 years and mean duration of morbidity was two five months. Among eight patients without change, mean was 62.3 years and mean duration of morbidity was four years six months.
4. RA factor was positive in seventeen patients. Among 17 patients. RA factor turnedd negative in two patients (5.7%). CRP turned negative in seven patients (20%), ESR was decreased in 10 patients(35%).
5. Side effects developed in six patients, three patients had gastrointestinal symptom, two patienjts had rash and one patient complained dizziness.
In conclusion, the effect of Bucillamine was noticed markedly two or three months after treatment and the therapeutic effect of Bucillamine seemed to be better in younger patient and shorter duration of symptoms. For evaluating the clinical
improvement
of symptoms, CRR and ESR had more clinical significance than RA factor.
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