Venlafaxine as Adjunct Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by persistent inflammation of the joints, leading to pain, swelling, disability, and reduced quality of life. Current therapies, although effective, may have limited efficacy or tolerability in some patients. Biological DMARDs are often associated with adverse effects, including increased risk of serious infections and heart failure. Long-term use may also increase the risk of malignancies. These limitations, together with their high cost. Venlafaxine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), has shown potential anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its antidepressant effects. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of venlafaxine as an adjunct therapy in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Timeline

Start

2026-03-26

Primary completion

2026-10-26

Completion

2026-12-26

Publications

• Background Arleevskaya, M., Takha, E., Petrov, S., Kazarian, G., Novikov, A., & Larionova, R. (2021). Causal risk and protective factors in rheumatoid arthritis : A genetic update. Journal of Translational Autoimmunity, 4, 100119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100119 BASSEL EL-ZORKANY, M.D., W. A. M. D. ., & LOBNA A. MAGED, M.D., N. E.-G. M. D. . M. (2023). Evaluation of Rheumatoid Arthritis Knowledge among a Cohort of 1004 Healthy Egyptians. The Medical Journal of Cairo University, 91(03), 225-0. https://doi.org/10.21608/mjcu.2023.307506 Bullock, J., Rizvi, A. A., Saleh, A. M., & Ahmed, S. (2018). Rheumatoid Arthritis : A Brief Overview of the Treatment. 33328, 501-507. https://doi.org/10.1159/000493390 Chen, C. Y., Yeh, Y. W., Kuo, S. C., Liang, C. S., Ho, P. S., Huang, C. C., Yen, C. H., Shyu, J. F., Lu, R. B., & Huang, S. Y. (2018). Differences in immunomodulatory properties between venlafaxine and paroxetine in patients with major depressive disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 87(325), 108-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.10.009 Chen, L., Zeng, X., Zhou, S., Gu, Z., & Pan, J. (2022). Correlation Between Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha , Serum Interleukin-6 and White Matter Integrity Before and After the Treatment of Drug-Naïve Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. 16(July), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.948637 El Meidany, Y. M., El Gaafary, M. M., & Ahmed, I. (2003). Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of an Arabic Health Assessment Questionnaire for use in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Joint Bone Spine, 70(3), 195-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1297-319X(03)00004-6 F., W. (1989). The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) Disability Index (DI) Of The Clinical Health Assessment Questionnaire (Version 96.4). Arthritis Rheum., 32(Di), 2-7. Gharib, M., Elbaz, W., Darweesh, E., & Sabri, N. A. (2021). Ef fi cacy and Safety of Metformin Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis : A Randomized Controlled Study. 12(September), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389

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