Controlled study on flurbiprofen and diclofenac in the treatment of rheumatic disorders

Forty patients affected by various rheumatic disorders (mainly osteoarthritis) were treated with flurbiprofen (300 mg daily) or diclofenac (200 mg daily) in a two-week, parallel group, randomized trial. Both drugs were clinically effective in all the parameters except for fingertip-to-floor distance and ESR. Flurbiprofen proved to be more effective than diclofenac in reducing pain on movement (p less than 0.01) and number of swollen joints (p less than 0.05). The doctor's overall assessment favoured flurbiprofen (p less than 0.10). The incidence and severity of side-effects were low and similar with the two drugs.