PMID: 9444419Jan 28, 1998Paper

Variations in the monitoring and management of the side effects of antirheumatic drugs by means of laboratory tests

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
C H SimonF C Breedveld

Abstract

To ascertain the strategies Dutch rheumatologists would employ in the monitoring of side effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) by means of laboratory tests, and in the management of detected toxicity. A questionnaire was sent to all practicing Dutch rheumatologists concerning NSAIDs and the following DMARDs: antimalarials (AMALs), intramuscular gold (Au), d-penicillamine (DPEN), sulfasalazine (SASP), methotrexate (MTX) and azathioprine (AZA). The response rate was 72% (83/114). Except for AMALs, at least 90% of rheumatologists determined the haemoglobin concentration during NSAID or DMARD therapy, the white blood cell (WBC) and platelet count during DMARD, serum creatinine and transaminases during MTX, and proteinuria during Au and DPEN therapy. At least 88% did not request a urinalysis when prescribing AMALs, and serum bilirubin and albumin when prescribing all drugs. The majority used monitoring intervals of < 3 months when prescribing DMARDs (except for AMALs) during the induction phase of therapy and during the maintenance phase in the case of Au and MTX treatment. For all DMARDs except AMALs, 65% to 75% would change the treatment when the WBC count was ...Continue Reading

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