Maintenance therapy of rheumatoid arthritis and of osteoarthrosis with proglumetacin
Bozsóky, S.; Zahumenszky, Z.
Pharmatherapeutica 3(5): 305-313
1983
ISSN/ISBN: 0308-051X PMID: 6844368 Document Number: 212255
Maintenance therapy with proglutametacin [a non-steroidal antiinflammatory agent] was studied in an open investigation in 25 patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis and in 34 patients with osteoarthrosis. Proglumetacin (150 mg) was administered twice daily, at meals, and therapy was continued without interruption for 12 mo. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis showed a progressive improvement in objective parameters (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and Hb) and in semi-objective parameters (pain, articular tenderness, number of painful joints, morning stiffness, grip strength and Ritchie articular index). Patients with osteoarthritis showed a progressive improvement in objective parameters (movement angles of the affected joints) and in subjective parameters (pain, mobility and response to therapy). During the study, 4 patients reported occasional nausea (3 with vomiting), and 3 reported episodes of slight headache. These symptoms did not require interruption of treatment. Hematology, blood chemistry and urinalysis were not adversely affected by the treatment. Five drop-outs were recorded in the rheumatoid arthritis group: 2 because patients failed to report; 2 because of severe relapses which required a radical change in the therapeutic program; and 1 for incorrect enrollment. Fourteen drop-outs were recorded in the osteoarthrosis group: 6 because the patients failed to report; 4 because of orthopedic surgery; and 4 because it was necessary to change the therapeutic program. No drop-out was due to an intolerance to proglumetacin. Proglumetacin appears to have the effectiveness of tolerability features for a first-choice medicament for long-term maintenance treatment of patients with rheumatoid or with osteoarthrosis.