A randomized controlled trial of homeopathy in rheumatoid arthritis

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A randomized controlled trial of homeopathy in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatology 2001; 40: 1052-1055 © 2001 British Society for

Rheumatology

http://rheumatology.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/40/9/1052

P. Fisher and D. L. 1, Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, Great

Ormond Street, London WC1N 3HR and 1 Department of Rheumatology, GKT

School of Medicine, Kings College Hospital, East Dulwich Grove, Dulwich,

London SE22 9PT, UK

Objective. To test the hypothesis that homeopathy is effective in

reducing the symptoms of joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis

(RA).

Method. This was a 6-month randomized, cross-over, double-blind,

placebo-controlled, single-centre study set in a teaching hospital

rheumatology out-patient clinic. The participants of the study were 112

patients who had definite or classical RA, were seropositive for

rheumatoid factor and were receiving either stable doses of single

non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 3 months or single

disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) with or without NSAIDs

for 6 months. Patients who were severely disabled, had taken systemic

steroids in the previous 6 months or had withdrawn from DMARD therapy in

the previous 12 months were excluded.

Two series of medicines were used. One comprised 42 homeopathic

medicines used for treating RA in 6cH (10-12) and/or 30cH (10-30)

dilutions (a total of 59 preparations) manufactured to French National

Pharmacopoeia standards, the other comprised identical matching

placebos. The main outcome measures were visual analogue scale pain

scores, Ritchie articular index, duration of morning stiffness and

erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Results. Fifty-eight patients completed the trial. Over 6 months there

were significant decreases (P<0.01 by Wilcoxon rank sum tests) in their

mean pain scores (fell 18%), articular indices (fell 24%) and ESRs (fell

11%). Fifty-four patients withdrew before completing the trial.

Thirty-one changed conventional medication, 10 had serious intercurrent

illness or surgery, 12 failed to attend and three withdrew consent.

Placebo and active homeopathy had different effects on pain scores; mean

pain scores were significantly lower after 3 months' placebo therapy

than 3 months' active therapy (P=0.032 by Wilcoxon rank sum test).

Articular index, ESR and morning stiffness were similar with active and

placebo homeopathy.

Conclusions. We found no evidence that active homeopathy improves the

symptoms of RA, over 3 months, in patients attending a routine clinic

who are stabilized on NSAIDs or DMARDs.