Controlled-release ketoprofen in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: comparison of two doses in Thailand

Thirty-one hospital outpatients in Thailand, 14 with rheumatoid arthritis and 17 with osteoarthritis, received 100 mg (15 patients) or 200 mg (16 patients) of controlled-release ketoprofen daily for 12 weeks. At the start of treatment, at day 42, and at day 84 (end of treatment) the patients were assessed for pain, duration and severity of morning stiffness, duration of daytime inactivity needed to produce stiffness, the duration of that stiffness, and overall clinical state. Blood and urine samples were taken to monitor hematological, renal, and carbohydrate function. On all clinical measures the patients improved during the study to a highly significant extent in both treatment groups, with no significant between-group differences. No ketoprofen-induced side effects were reported. No clinically important changes in laboratory variables were found. It is concluded that controlled-release ketoprofen is effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of the symptoms of arthritis in Thailand. On the basis of this study, there appears to be no advantage in increasing the dose above 100 mg daily.