Study on the absorption of ketoprofen topically administered in man: comparison between tissue and plasma levels

In this study the transcutaneous passage of ketoprofen (gel) topically administered and its distribution in the inner part of the knee-joint were evaluated in six patients. The ketoprofen concentrations detected were: 4.70 mcg/g +/- 3.87 in the intra-articular adipose tissue; 2.35 mcg/g +/- 2.41 in the capsular sample and 1.31 mcg/g +/- 0.89 in the synovial fluid. Plasma concentrations of the drug were also examined. In the samples studied, the ketoprofen levels amounted to about one hundred times higher than the plasma concentrations.