Androgens as adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Ann Rheum Dis. 1996 Nov;55(11):811-5. doi: 10.1136/ard.55.11.811.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the possible beneficial effect of androgens in postmenopausal women with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: 107 women participated in a double blind placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effect of 50 mg testosterone propionate intramuscularly every two weeks for one year.

Results: An improvement in ESR, Dutch health assessment questionnaire, and pain was noted. In addition, 21% of patients treated with testosterone fulfilled the ACR improvement criteria after one year, versus only 4% of the placebo group. The treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusions: Testosterone may improve the general wellbeing of postmenopausal women with active rheumatoid arthritis.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Disability Evaluation
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain Measurement
  • Postmenopause
  • Progesterone / adverse effects
  • Progesterone / therapeutic use*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Testosterone / adverse effects
  • Testosterone / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • Testosterone
  • Progesterone