title: Quantitative assessment of joint pain following treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with ibuprofen cream.
abstract: The antiinflammatory effect of percutaneous application of NSAID (DOLGIT cream) was evaluated quantitatively on 11 patients with symmetric rheumatoid arthritis of the metacarpophalangeal and/or proximal interphalangeal joints. The pressure pain detection threshold (PDT) and pressure pain tolerance threshold (PTT) on the test joints were measured before and on days 3 and 7 after double-blind placebo controlled application of NSAID cream. The clinical pain was assessed by a visual analog scale (VAS) following controlled finger movements. The relative median PDT differences between NSAID and placebo treatment median were 10 kPa (N.S.) on day 3 and 17 kPa (N.S.) on day 7. The corresponding median differences in PTT were -5 kPa (N.S.) and 23 kPa (P < 0.05), respectively. The corresponding median decreases in VAS score were 4.2 mm (N.S.) and 15.5 mm (N.S.), respectively. The experimental joint pressure techniques can assess selectively pain from small joints and is a new useful tool to evaluate antinociceptive and/or antiinflammatory effects.
authors: Laboratory for Experimental Pain Research, Aalborg University, Denmark.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Arendt-Nielsen
authors: A M
authors: AM
authors: Drewes
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Svendsen
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Brennum
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009824:Ointments; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D007052:Ibuprofen