Diclofenac and ibuprofen in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Forty patients with arthritis (26 rheumatoid and 14 osteoarthrosis) entered a five-week double-blind crossover trial of diclofenac and ibuprofen. Four patients failed to complete the 10-week trial. There was no statistically significant difference in parameters of disease activity for the rheumatoid arthritis patients, but patients with osteoarthrosis fared significantly better on diclofenac. There was a low incidence of side effects on both regimens.