SEQUENTIAL STUDY OF BACTERIAL ANTIBODY LEVELS ANTIBODY LEVELS AND FAECAL FLORA IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS TAKING SULPHASALAZINE

Faecal and serum samples were collected from 31 patients with active RA during treatment with the DMARD sulphasalazine (SASP). These were examined for changes in faecal flora and antibodies to bacterial antigens respectively. Faecal counts of Clostridium perfringens but not Escherichia coli or total aerobic or anaerobic counts fell sign 2 weeks of treatment, this decrease being maintained throughout the treatment period. There was, however, no relationship between changes in the faecal carriage of this micro-organism and response to drug treatment, as assessed using clinical and biochemical indicators of disease activity. Changes in antibody levels to antigen preparations of this organism were also unrelated to response to drug treatment