Abstract: Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune condition that classically presents as a symmetrical polyarthritis of proximal small synovial joints. The present study was conducted to compare CPH 82 and methotrexate (MTX) in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
Materials and methods: 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were divided into 2 groups of 29 each. Group I patients were given cap. 300 mg CPH 82 and group II were prescribed 10 mg methotrexate weekly. Swollen joints, number of tender joints, VAS, Health Assessment Questionnaire index and disease activity score was also recorded.
Results: Group I had 15 males and 14 females and group II had 13 males and 16 females. The mean disease duration was 11 months in group I and 10.4 months in group II, rheumatoid factor positive was seen in 34 in group I and 30 in group II, erosive disease was seen among 25 in group I and 29 group II, mean DAS was 4.48 in group I and 4.82 in group II, HAQ was 1.20 in group I and 1.21 in group II. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05).
Conclusion: Authors found that MTX more effective than CPH 82. The safety profile of CPH 82 was more favourable than MTX.
