[Conservative therapy of activated gonarthrosis. Double-blind study of proglumetacine and piroxicam]

In a randomized double-blind clinical investigation, the efficacy and safety of proglumetacin 450 mg/day (150 mg in the morning, 300 mg in the evening) were compared to those of piroxicam 20 mg/day (placebo in the morning, 20 mg in the evening), in 50 patients with activated gonarthrosis. After decoding it was found that 25 patients had been treated with proglumetacin and 25 with piroxicam. Joint troubles, knee circumference, function tests were recorded at time 0 and after 3, 7, 14 and 21 days; on the same days an overall doctor's rating of efficacy was also given. The rating of efficacy was "good" in 70% of patients in the proglumetacin group compared to 60% for piroxicam. The efficacy of the two medicaments was not significantly different. The patients treated with proglumetacin did not report any adverse reactions. Conversely, 5 patients of the piroxicam group dropped out: 1 for epigastric pain, 1 for vomiting and epigastric pain, 1 for an increase of severity of knee pain, 1 for an allergic reaction, 1 for an exanthema. The difference in drop-out rate is statistically significant. A further patient complained of gastrointestinal upsets, but continued on the treatment. Hematology and laboratory parameters were not affected by the treatments. It is concluded that in activated gonarthrosis proglumetacin has an efficacy comparable to that of piroxicam, but is significantly safer for the patients.