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Treatment-induced stable, moderate reduction in blood cell counts correlate to disease control in early rheumatoid arthritis
Internal Medicine Journal, 06/23/09

Lester SE et al. - Findings suggest that moderate reductions in cell counts are well tolerated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and appear to contribute to disease control.

• Aim was to analyse cell counts obtained as routine surveillance for adverse effects to:
  • assess effect of intensive treatment and treatment dosage and
  • examine correlations to disease activity scores
    in pts with RA undergoing tratment
• Pts with early RA were treated with combinations of DMARDs according to pre-defined rules
• Dose was adjusted based on residual disease activity and tolerance

• Mean leucocyte, neutrophil and platelet counts fell with levels that correlated to disease activity scores
• The strongest correlation was between platelets and disease activity scores
• There was a modest, inverse correlation between methotrexate dose and monocyte and lymphocyte counts
• No serious toxicity associated with the therapy was seen

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