Clinical Trial on the Efficacy of Raloxifene on Disease Activity and Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis

The investigators select 40 postmenopausal women suffering from RA with 2.5<DAS28<5.5 referring to rheumatology clinics of Mashhad university of medical sciences and randomly divide them into intervention group and placebo group. Evista tab 60mg/day and placebo are administered double blind. In the beginning, total bone mineral density (BMD) assessment is carried out from all patients and then Alendronate is discontinued in 2 groups. In first 3 months, in addition to Evista and placebo, MTX tab 2.5mg is given to patients and they are allowed to consume NSAID with accurate record of its dosage. Patients visit rheumatologist monthly in these 3 months and NSAID should be discontinued 48 hours before every visit. At the end of month 3, disease activity and probable complications are evaluated and compared in 2 groups. Classic regimen should be started for every patient who doesn't enter remission phase in first 3 months.

In 4th month, DMARD regimen is administered and then patients are visited every 2 months. Clinical findings are collected in month 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 12. After 12 months, another total BMD test is carried out and then data are analyzed including changes in BMD, DAS28, EULAR response criteria and HAQ-DI score.