[The effect of nonsteroidal antirheumatic agents on articular cartilage]

The authors submit a review on the influence of non-steroid anti-rheumatic drugs on the articular cartilage. First they review the general literature and then discuss the effect of different NSA on cartilage, taking into account their classification into six groups with regard to their chemical composition. Experience is based practically only on laboratory and experimental work and the results therefore cannot be mechanically applied in clinical medicine. However, NSA which do not have a negative impact on the cartilage of experimental animals are probably also safer in clinical practice. In this country the following NSA are available: diclofenac, piroxicam and thia profenic acid.