2007 Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 403-411
Objective: To evaluate the impact of tacrolimus monotherapy on health related quality of life (HRQOL) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Methods: Twenty-three adult patients were enrolled in a 52-week, open-label, non-comparative study. Tacrolimus was orally administered at doses of 1.5-3.0 mg once daily, and serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured as clinical markers. HRQOL was examined by using Short Form-8 (SF-8) before and after administration of tacrolimus.
Results: CRP and ESR were significantly decreased at three months of taking tacrolimus, and continuous improvement was observed throughout the study. As to the HRQOL survey, all domains of SF-8 were improved with tacrolimus, and the improvements of physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality and mental health domains were significant. Both physical and mental component summaries were also continuously improved throughout the study, and marked improvement was especially observed in the physical component summary.
Conclusion: Tacrolimus therapy was effective for improvement of HRQOL in RA patients.
