title: Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the course of osteoarthritis.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis by reducing synthesis of vasodilator prostaglandins, thereby diminishing joint perfusion, 105 osteoarthritis patients awaiting hip arthroplasty were treated prospectively with a strong or weak prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin or azapropazone, respectively. Pain and radiological joint space were monitored during the period up to arthroplasty and the condition of the excised femoral head was determined. As judged by radiological and histopathological data, the two treatment groups were at a similar pathophysiological end-point when they came to arthroplasty. In the indomethacin group the affected hips lost joint space more rapidly than did the contralateral hips, a difference not seen in the azapropazone group. The patients receiving azapropazone, who had higher concentrations of synovial vasodilator prostaglandins, took longer than the indomethacin group to reach the arthroplasty end-point. Potent inhibitors of prostaglandin synthesis may be inappropriate in the management of osteoarthritis of the hip.
authors.affiliation: West Middlesex University Hospital.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rashad
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Revell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hemingway
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Low
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rainsford
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001032:Apazone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005270:Femur Head / Q000473:pathology; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors; D014227:Triazines / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014227:Triazines; D001032:Apazone; D007213:Indomethacin