title: Minimum effective dose of etodolac for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Etodolac was compared with aspirin and placebo for efficacy and safety, and a minimum effective dose was established in 264 patients with adult-onset, active rheumatoid arthritis. In this six-week, 14-center, double-blind, parallel-group investigation, preceded by a washout period of up to two weeks, patients received daily doses of etodolac at 50, 100, or 200 mg/d; aspirin at 3,900 mg/d; or placebo. Both etodolac at the highest dose and aspirin produced statistically significant improvement from baseline in all disease activity assessments measured at four- and six-week end points and were superior to placebo in the majority of assessments. A greater number of patient complaints occurred with aspirin, especially in regard to gastrointestinal-related and otologic side effects. A significant therapeutic dose response was evident among the etodolac groups without an increase in side effects. Although the 100-mg/d dose was effective in many of the efficacy parameters measured, the 200-mg/d dose, which is comparably efficacious to aspirin 3.9 g/d, was suggested as the minimum effective dose for the relief of the signs and symptoms of active rheumatoid arthritis.
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017308:Etodolac; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017308:Etodolac; D001241:Aspirin