A double-blind cross-over trial of fenoprofen and phenylbutazone in ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Fenoprofen, 600 mg, three times daily, was compared with phenylbutazone, 100 mg, three times daily, in 30 patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis in a double-blind cross-over study. Assessments were made after an initial washout period and after each month-long treatment period. Phenylbutazone significantly improved morning stiffness, finger-to-floor distance, chest expansion, overall joint pain, spinal pain, the physician's assessment of disease activity and ESR. Only chest expansion was significantly improved by fenoprofen, and phenylbutazone was significantly better than fenoprofen in its effects on finger-to-floor distance, morning stiffness, overall joint pain, spinal pain and the physician's assessment of disease activity. Side-effects were of a minor nature apart from one patient who developed rectal bleeding on phenylbutazone which recurred on rechallenging.