Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) Ointment in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Double Blind Study

Summary

The action of (1) ten per cent DMSO ointment, (2) ten per cent DMSO and ten per cent Diethyl salicylate ointment, and (3) placebo ointment in chronic RA was studied by the double blind method. A total of 120 treatment experiments of one month each were carried out. Favourable results were obtained in 58 per cent of the cases treated with the placebo, 50 per cent of those treated with DMSO ointment alone, and 66 per cent of those treated with the combined ointment. The slightly better results obtained with the combined salicylate-DMSO ointment were not statistically significant, but apparently encourage further research into the matter. Since even a placebo may give good results in musculo-skeletal diseases, the necessity of double blind tests in studies of this type is emphasized.