title: The efficacy of Arthrotec in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
abstract: In a double-blind study, 455 patients with osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to receive a combination of Arthrotec, 50 mg of diclofenac and 200 micrograms of misoprostol, or 50 mg of diclofenac; the drugs were given two or three times daily for 4 weeks. At weeks 2 and 4 of treatment, no significant differences between the treatment groups were noted in changes from baseline on the physicians' and patients' global assessment of osteoarthritis. On a measure of arthritis severity, patients with both arthritis of the hip and knee showed improvement from week 2 to week 4, with no significant differences between treatment groups.
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, England.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D016595:Misoprostol; D004008:Diclofenac