@article {Ogrendik:March 2007:0300-7995:515,
	author = "Ogrendik, Mesut",
	title = "Effects of clarithromycin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis",
	journal = "Current Medical Research and Opinion",
	volume = "23",
	year = "March 2007",
	abstract = "<I>Objective:</I> To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and tolerability of clarithromycin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.<P></P><I>Research design and methods:</I> This was a 6-month, monocenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. A total of 81 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis were treated with either once-daily oral clarithromycin (500 mg) or daily oral placebo for 6 months.<P></P><I>Main outcome measures:</I> The primary efficacy variable was the percentage of patients who had a 20% improvement according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria (an ACR 20 response) at 6-months. Secondary outcome measures were 50% improvement and 70% improvement according to ACR criteria (an ACR 50 response and an ACR 70 response, respectively).<P></P><I>Results:</I> A significantly greater percentage of patients treated with 500 mg clarithromycin met the ACR 20 response at 6 months compared with patients who received placebo (59 vs. 33%; <I>p</I> &#60; 0.001). Greater percentages of patients treated with 500 mg clarithromycin also achieved ACR 50 responses (34 vs. 10%; <I>p</I> &#60; 0.001) and ACR 70 responses (20 vs. 3%; <I>p</I> = 0.003) compared with patients who received placebo, respectively. Clarithromycin was well tolerated. There were no dose-limiting toxic effects.<P></P><I>Conclusions:</I> In patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with clarithromycin significantly improved the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Clarithromycin has been shown to be effective against rheumatoid arthritis.",
	pages = "515-522(8)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/apl/cmro/2007/00000023/00000003/art00006"
	doi = "doi:10.1185/030079906X167642"
}