Steroid-sparing action of flurbiprofen and indomethacin in rheumatoid arthritis: a nine-week study

Thirty out-patients with rheumatoid arthritis aged from 3 yrs. (+/- 0.5 SEM) were included in a between-patient controlled trial comparing effectiveness and safety of flurbiprofen 300 mg daily and indomethacin 150 mg daily. The duration of the treatment was nine weeks. Both drugs allowed to reduce the initial dose of corticosteroids administered (-21% on flurbiprofen and -12% on indomethacin) and were effective in improving clinical signs of the disease such as number of swollen joints, grip strength, articular index and morning stiffness. Flurbiprofen was better tolerated (p less than 0.01).