OBJECTIVES : To measure the effect of spironolactone on naïve RA patients via Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and VAS score

METHODS : A prospective, open label study under defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. 32 patients continued their previous DMARD(s) regimen as such and Spironolactone 2mg/kg OD was added. 28 patient was completed the study and assessed at baseline & 12^th week visit. The patient, physician assessment, pain score and HAQ-DI were calculated using Wilcoxon rank sum test by software SPSS-22.

RESULTS

: All four scale of assessment found significant improvements (p<0.01 vs baseline) after 12 weeks of add-on spironolactone therapy in RA patients.

1. Patient assessment of general health on VAS scale- Patient score improved from 6.8 ±0.24 to 3.76 ± 0.34.
2. Physician assessment score of general health on VAS-It had also indicated that there was improvement of health score or decrease in disease activity from 7.03±0.22 to 4.11±2.61 in 0-12 weeks.
3. Pain Intensity assessment- Pain intensity score improved from 7.0±0.29 to 2.88±0.37.