[Therapy of acute attacks of gout using acemetacin (author's transl)]

In an open clinical study the efficacy and tolerability of [1-(p-chlorobenzoyl)-5-methoxy-2-methylindole-3-acetoxy] acetic acid (acemetacin, TV 1322, Rantudil) were studied in 15 patients (2 female and 13 male) suffering from acute arthritis urica. Basing on the heterogeneity of the patients it was possible to estimate the minimal dose of acemetacin necessary to treat slight, moderately severe and extremely severe forms of the complaint. With the exception of one patient who suffered from an extremely severe attack of gout, all patients were completely free from pain within 7 days of therapy. The same results were also valid for the parameters reddening, swelling and functional and impairment. In 12 of 15 cases the assessment of therapy was given as "good" by the patients as well as the physicians. In only one instance was it necessary to give colchizin concomitantly to ensure that the patient was free from pain. In this case, the gout, had over many years, assumed a chronic character and during acute attacks manifested to an almost generalised arthritis. Despite the relatively high daily doses--in some cases up to 600 mg/day--only one case of slight gastric disorder was recorded as an undesired side effect. This, however, did not necessitate withdrawing the drug. It can thus be concluded that acemetacin in the doses used in this study is effective in the therapy of acute gout and is well tolerated at relatively high daily doses.