Article Sidebar
Article Details
Copyright remains in the Author’s name. The work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - Noncommercial Works License. Authors are required to complete and sign an Author Agreement form that outlines Author and Publisher rights and terms of publication. The Agreement form should be uploaded along with other submissions files and any submission will be considered incomplete without it [forthcoming].
Material submitted for publication in the SAMJ is accepted provided it has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Please inform the editorial team if the main findings of your paper have been presented at a conference and published in abstract form, to avoid copyright infringement. The SAMJ does not hold itself responsible for statements made by the authors.
Previously published images
If an image/figure has been previously published, permission to reproduce or alter it must be obtained by the authors from the original publisher and the figure legend must give full credit to the original source. This credit should be accompanied by a letter indicating that permission to reproduce the image has been granted to the author/s. This letter should be uploaded as a supplementary file during submission.
Main Article Content
Osteoporosis in the rheumatoid hand the effects of treatment with D-penicillamine and oral gold salts
Abstract
Osteoporosis is a common and important feature of rheumatoid disease which can be further influenced by the treatment admiflistered. o-penicillamine. a lathyritic agent. can also theoretically hasten the osteoporotic process through its effect on collagen metabolism. In the present study the effects of the long-term second-line drugs o-penicillamine and oral gold (Auranofin) on bone density are presented. All the patients studied lost bone mineral over the 3-year period, but continuous D-penicillamine therapy for 1 year reversed this t"rend. Oral gold did not have the same effect. Measurements of bone density are an accurate indirect measurement of hand function, and there is a good correlation between hand function and the progress of osteoporosis. It is therefore suggested that treatment with o-penicillamine reverses the tendency to lose bone mineral improving synovitis. thus leading to improved hand function.
