Fenoprofen in rheumatoid arthritis: a controlled crossover multi-centre study

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Pharmacology
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease requiring effective management.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used for RA symptom control.
• Comparing the efficacy and safety of different NSAIDs is crucial for optimizing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of fenoprofen and aspirin in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.
• To evaluate the impact of these anti-inflammatory agents on rheumatic activity.
• To assess the side effect profiles of fenoprofen and aspirin at specified dosages.

Main Methods:

• A multi-clinic, double-blind, crossover study design was employed.
• 116 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis participated.
• Patients received fenoprofen (400 mg Q6H) and aspirin (1,000 mg Q6H) for six-week periods in random order.

Main Results:

• Both fenoprofen and aspirin demonstrated significant improvement in rheumatoid arthritis activity compared to placebo.
• No significant differences in efficacy were observed between fenoprofen and aspirin at the tested dosages.
• Fenoprofen was associated with a lower incidence of side effects compared to aspirin.

Conclusions:

• Fenoprofen and aspirin are effective in managing rheumatoid arthritis.
• Fenoprofen offers a favorable safety profile with comparable efficacy to aspirin.
• Fenoprofen is identified as a valuable therapeutic agent for rheumatoid arthritis treatment.