The results of long-term use of Wobenzym in complex management of rheumatoid arthritis

Shalamberidze L., Kartvelishvili E., Astvatsaturova T.

Center of Rheumatology, Tbilisi, Georgia

International congress "Advances in Immunology and Allergology at the Treshold of the XXI Century" May 3-6, 2000, Eilat, Israel

Czech abstract

Open controlled one year study of 60 patients with confirmed diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis was conducted. Of those 30 received 7 tablets of Wobenzym (Mucos Pharma, Germany) three times a day (group 1), another 30 patients received a weekly dose of 7.5 mg of Methotrexate (group2) (control). The both groups were matched by sex, age, clinical and laboratory data. The majority of the patients in both groups also received Diclofenac (100-150 mg/day), while some patients received the daily dose of 7.5-10 mg Prednisolone. The universally accepted clinical and laboratory indices were assessed before the treatment 3, 6, 9 months after the beginning and on completion of the therapy.
The onset of therapeutic effect (diminishing of the pain intensity, morning rigidity, Ritchi's index, inflammatory and immune activity etc.) in cases of complex management with Wobenzym was observed as early as 1-2 months after the beginning of the therapy, while in the control group the same effect was observed only after 3-4 months. In the course of the study the medicine was withdrawn in 8 patients (26.6%) of the group 1 and in 7 patients (23.3%) of the control group because of its inefficiency. Besides, in 4 patients of the control group Methotrexate was withdrawn due to side effects. In the majority of patients of the both groups who endured the one year course of therapy no X-ray and ultrasonographically confirmed progress of the above pathology was observed.