title: A multicentre double-blind comparison of oxaprozin aspirin therapy on rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Preliminary clinical studies showed that oxaprozin (4,5 Diphenyl-2-oxazolepropionic acid) has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties with a plasma half-life of about 40 hours. Consequently, a multicentre, double-blind parallel trial was conducted for 12 weeks at thirteen investigator sites, utilizing 212 patients with classic rheumatoid arthritis and comparing oxaprozin 600 mg/day, oxaprozin 1200 mg/day and aspirin 3900 mg/day. Both the oxaprozin and aspirin-treated patients had statistically significant improvement from baseline periods, in most key categories evaluated. Oxaprozin administered twice a day (b.i.d.) was as effective as aspirin administered four times a day (q.i.d.) and caused significantly less tinnitus (p less than 0.001). Fewer patients receiving high dose oxaprozin (2%) dropped out of the study because of unsatisfactory response than did those receiving aspirin (10%). There were no clinically significant laboratory abnormalities in the gastro-intestinal, renal, hepatic or haematological parameters monitored. This study suggests that oxaprozin is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010080:Oxazoles / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011422:Propionates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010080:Oxazoles; D011422:Propionates; D001241:Aspirin