Salsalate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: a double-blind clinical and gastroscopic trial versus piroxicam. I. Clinical trial.
A double-blind, double-dummy controlled study to compare the clinical efficacy and gastric tolerability of salsalate and piroxicam in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis was performed. Twenty-three patients were treated with 1.5 g salsalate twice daily and 20 with 20 mg piroxicam (taken after the evening meal) for a period of 4 weeks. Patients were submitted to gastroscopy at the start and end of treatment; only patients who presented a normal baseline gastroscopy were admitted to the trial. At the end of the planned treatment period, a statistically significant improvement of all clinical variables was observed in both treatment groups, the difference between the two drugs not being statistically significant. Seven (37%) patients treated with salsalate complained of tinnitus. The results show that salsalate and piroxicam have equal efficacy in relieving the symptoms of arthritis.
Montrone
F
F
Rheumatology Unit, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Caruso
I
I
Cazzola
M
M
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010894:Piroxicam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012459:Salicylates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D012459:Salicylates; D010894:Piroxicam; C014182:salicylsalicylic acid