title: Efficacy and tolerability of etodolac in aged patients affected by degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) in its active phase.
abstract: Three-hundred-and-fifteen patients, aged 60 or more years, affected by degenerative joint disease (DJD) in the active stage, the majority with concomitant pathological conditions of various organs and systems and undergoing various combined drug treatments, were treated with 300 mg b.i.d. etodolac in order to assay its efficacy and safety profile in an aged population more exposed to the occurrence of adverse events. In a subset of these patients, the impact of etodolac treatment on cognitive function and mood was studied. All clinical assessments revealed highly significant improvement after etodolac treatment. Significant improvement was found also for what concerns mood, whereas only the less aged patients showed improvement in cognitive abilities after treatment with etodolac. Only 30 patients (9.5%) showed side-effects, resulting in suspension of treatment in 10 cases (3.17%). In all cases, adverse reactions subsided with no consequences. Laboratory tests performed at the end of the study yielded mean values comprised within the normal range and were not statistically different from the same examinations performed before starting treatment. Occult blood in stool turned positive after treatment with etodolac only in six patients (2%). In conclusion, etodolac proved to be effective and well-tolerated in the treatment of risk-aged patients with active DJD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Todesco
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Del Ross
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Marigliano
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ariani
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D017308:Etodolac / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017308:Etodolac