The inhibitory effect of enzyme and combination therapy with cyclosporin A on adjuvant arthritis in rats

The inhibitory effect of enzyme and combination therapy with cyclosporin A on adjuvant arthritis in rats

Rovenská E., Stančíková M., Švík K., Rovenský J.

Research Institute of Rheumatic Diseases, Piešťany, Slovak Republic

Annual European Congress of Rheumatology, 21 – 24 June, 2000, Nice, France

526 KA

Recent knowledge on the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and drug effect - mechanisms have allowed the use of new drugs and drug combinations in RA therapy. This study investigates the efficacy of both enzyme therapy and combined therapy with cyclosporin A in rats with adjuvant arthritis.
Rats with adjuvant-Induced arthritis were administered the following drugs:
cyclosporin A (2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg/day orally); a mixture of enzymes containing pure substances (bromelain, trypsin, rutin) in the same ratio present in Phlogenzym® (PHL, 45 mg/kg, twice daily intrarectally); and a combination of 2.5 mg cyclosporin A plus 90 mg PHL for a period of 40 days from adjuvans application. Healthy controls and adjuvant-arthritic rats were also investigated. Levels of serum albumin, swelling and bone erosions (radiographic score) in the hind paws were measured in rats as variables of inflammation and destructive arthritic changes.
Treatment with 5 mg of cyclosporin A and the combination therapy with cyclosporin A plus PHL significantly inhibited both inflammation and destructive arthritis-associated changes. However, 2.5 mg of cyclosporin A or PHL alone inhibited these disease markers, although this was to a lesser extent and at a later stage of arthritis development. A statistically significant decrease in the radiographic score was observed in the groups treated with 2.5 mg cyclosporin A, 5 mg cyclosporin A, and the combination therapy of cyclosporin A plus PHL.
In conclusion, our results show the inhibitory effect of enzyme therapy on adjuvant arthritis in rats, as well as the efficacy of a low dose of cyclosporin A given in combination with enzyme therapy, which may be useful in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.