Sulindac in the treatment of acute gout arthritis

Sulindac is a new non-steroidal drug which is currently available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteo-arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis throughout the world. We have recently assessed on open trial of this drug in acute gout arthritis of 26 patients (16 men and ten women). Their ages ranged from 40 to 62 years. All the patients entered in the study provided the fulfilled rigid criteria. Patients received 400 mg in two separate doses in the morning and evening for seven days. There was a dramatic improvement in the joint pain in 15 patients in the first 24 hours and only one after 48 hours, swelling and tenderness improved after four days. No significant side-effects and no significant changes in any of the laboratory tests were observed. Our conclusion is that sulindac is a very useful drug in the treatment of acute gout arthritis.