title: Double-blind comparison of the efficacy of diclofenac/misoprostol and diclofenac in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: A double-blind, randomised, parallel-group study was conducted in eight countries to compare the efficacy of a fixed combination of diclofenac sodium (50 mg) and misoprostol (200 mcg) with a fixed combination of diclofenac sodium (50 mg) and placebo in treating the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 346 patients with RA who had been stabilised on diclofenac for at least 30 days were randomly assigned to receive either diclofenac/misoprostol BID or TID (n = 177) or diclofenac/placebo BID or TID (n = 169) for 12 weeks. Primary analyses of efficacy, made upon admission and at 4-week intervals, consisted of physician's global assessment of the arthritic condition, patient's global assessment of the arthritic condition, patient's global assessment of joint tenderness/pain, and physician's assessment of joint swelling. In this study, the fixed combination tablet of diclofenac sodium 50 mg/misoprostol 200 mcg administered BID or TID demonstrated no statistically significant difference in efficacy in the treatment of the signs and symptoms of RA compared with diclofenac sodium 50 mg/placebo administered BID or TID.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: de Queiroz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beaulieu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kruger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woods
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stead
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geis
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D013608:Tablets, Enteric-Coated; D016595:Misoprostol; D004008:Diclofenac