Double-blind trial of recombinant gamma-interferon versus placebo in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Author(s): Cannon GW, Pincus SH, Emkey RD, Denes A, Cohen SA, Wolfe F, Saway PA, Jaffer AM, Weaver AL, Cogen L

Affiliation(s): University of Utah, Salt Lake City.

Publication date & source: 1989-08, Arthritis Rheum., 32(8):964-73.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

One hundred five patients were enrolled in a 12-week, randomized, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of recombinant human gamma-interferon (rHu gamma-IFN) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Fifty-four patients received rHu gamma-IFN and 51 received placebo. Forty-two patients in each group completed the 12-week trial. Some clinical improvement occurred in both groups of patients. Although the improvement with rHu gamma-IFN was greater than that with placebo, the differences were generally not statistically significant.