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QUESTIONNAIRE TO RHEUMATOLOGISTS
The Select Committee on Aging conducted a survey concerning the use of DMSO
by rheumatologists. A random sample of 250 was selected from across the nation.
Of the 169 (68 percent) who responded, 33 (20 percent) have used or prescribed
DMSO in their practice. Forty-nine percent of them felt the drug was effective in
reducing inflammation, pain or other arthritic symptoms. An additional 23 who had
not had experience with the drug felt it was effective in reducing inflammation.
Those who have prescribed or used DMSO in their practices reported using it for
the following conditions: arthritis (including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and
degenerative arthritis of the spine), bursitis, scleroderma, tendonitis, fibrositis, gout,
sprains, skin ulcers, painful muscles, cervical syndrome and epicondylitis. A major-
ity of the rheumatologists felt more carefully controlled studies were warranted
and should be undertaken on the drug before it is legalized. Twelve (36 percent) of
the 33 who had experience with the drug felt it should be legalized.
Following are comments from the rheumatologists:
H. S., Bluffton, Ind.-"I believe DMSO should be treated as all potentially danger-
ous drugs. That is, it should not be released until carefully controlled studies reveal
that it is effective and if so, that the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks
of its use."
M. S., Portland, Oreg.-"I have no personal knowledge. This 'drug' is used in
Oregon for just about everything from skin rashes to sexual dysfunction. Being a
relative newcomer, I am unfamiliar with its full history. Its popularity is such,
though, that I'm sure half my patients would admit to using it-surreptitiously and
illegally.... My personal bias is that DMSO is no more than a topically effective
local anesthesia. It certainly does not change the natural progression of articular
pathology."
G. S., Portland, Oreg.-"I don't use the agent DMSO extensively but it has been a
useful agent with temporary benefit without significant toxicity."
E. R., Belleville, Ill.-"As a rheumatologist, I am concerned as are other physi-
cians about the lag time in obtaining approval for promising drugs. I see no reason
to single out DMSO from a number of unapproved drugs for specific action."
E. L., Burlington, Vt.-"I have seen only one patient on DMSO; she had severe
scleroderma and felt the drug was softening her skin. I did not follow her long
enough to fairly appraise any change, but objective improvement was minimal."
R. G., Abington, Pa.-"DMSO may have great potential and should be easily
available for even rather low level sophistication clinical trials, but it should not be
available for marketing as an arthritis treatment. The placebo effect is tremen-
dous."
S. A., Arcadia, Calif.-"DMSO does seem to be absorbed through the skin and is
somewhat effective in the acute reversible and superficial inflammatory processes
such as bursitis. I do not believe that the drug is ready for marketing but should
certainly be made available on an investigational basis so that more cogent data can
be obtained. Our limited use of DMSO on such a basis sanctioned by Ayerst
Laboratories in August 1965 was never satisfactorily completed due to the with-
drawal of this preparation from the market. Additionally, there seems to be some
suggestive data that DMSO might be helpful in the burn victim."
J. L., Cornwallis, Oreg.-"The needed studies for therapeutic efficacy and safety
have not yet been done. The government should sponsor these tests. Then if the
drug passes it should be legalized-under the same safeguards as any other drug."
W. B., Charleston, S. C.-"It should be made available for general use. It won't
take long to find it's place in treatment. It will probably find use only as a
liniment-an adjunct to physical therapy."
R. T., New Haven, Ind.-"I would have prescribed it repeatedly for rheumatoid
arthritis and scleroderma if the drug had been available. . . . Dr. Arthur Scherbel
of the Cleveland Clinic has had more than twenty years experience with this drug. I
trust his judgment as one of the most capable rheumatologists in the United States.
This drug is extremely valuable and should be available for study and use."
K. H., Kansas City, Mo.-"Because I am a rheumatologist, I have seen patients
who have used it for arthritis and were not benefited. I see many, many patients
who have tried all kinds of quack remedies. My partner, Dr. J. L., did research on
this drug 8 to 10 years ago and concluded that it was ineffective for rheumatic
diseases though it is an interesting and unique drug in other respects. Since it was
approved for treatment of a bladder condition it has enjoyed renewed enthusiasm as
a quack arthritis remedy but it is in the same unproven category as gold bracelets,
alfalfa tablets, yucca pills, garlic pills, snake venom, cocaine, bee stings, chelation
therapy, polyvalent bacterial vaccines, ad infinitum."
P. S., Portland, Oreg. has used the drug in his practice for osteoarthritis rheuma-
toid arthritis, scleroderma, nonspecific periarthritides (bursitis and tendonitis),
