[Clinical results of a multicentral double-blind examination of naproxen compared to indomethacin in chronic rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteoarthrosis]

Abstract

In a multicenter double-blind cross-over trial the therapeutic effect and the tolerance of d-2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)-propionic acid (naproxen) and indometacin were compared including 46 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 35 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 19 patients with osteoarthrosis. Duration of treatment with both drugs was two to four weeks each. The daily dose of naproxen was 750 mg, that of indometacin l50 mg. In rheumatoid arthritis the combined clinical effect of indometacin was stronger than that of naproxen while both drugs had the same clinical effectiveness in ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthrosis. When differentiating the total clinical effect as to indices of pain, inflammation and function, indometacin was shown to be superior in all three diseases with regard to pain index. On the other hand, naproxen showed a better effect in ankylosing spondylitis and osteoarthrosis than indometacin as to inflammation, and as to function in osteoarthrosis.