title: Comparison of Prednisolone, Etoricoxib, and Indomethacin in Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis: An Open-Label, Randomized, Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  At present there are several kinds of medicine for treating acute gout arthritis (AGA). This study compared the efficacy and safety of prednisolone, etoricoxib, and indomethacin in the treatment of AGA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open-label, randomized, active-comparator study in patients with AGA. Patients were randomized to 4 days of prednisolone 35 mg qd, etoricoxib 120 mg qd, or indomethacin 50 mg tid. The primary efficacy endpoint was the reduction of self-assessed pain in the index joint from baseline. Secondary endpoints included changes in physician's assessment of tenderness, erythema, swelling, and joint activity; patient assessment of response to therapy; and safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 113 patients. Baseline demographics were comparable among treatment groups. Oral prednisolone, etoricoxib, and indomethacin were similarly effective in improving pain, tenderness, and joint activity over 4 days. For inflammation, oral prednisolone, etoricoxib, and indomethacin were similarly effective in reducing erythema, but prednisolone might be more effective in reducing swelling than indomethacin. The patient response to therapy was similar in the 3 groups. There were more total adverse events with indomethacin compared with the other 2 drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efficacy was comparable among prednisolone, etoricoxib, and indomethacin for the treatment of AGA. Prednisolone might be more effective in reducing inflammation and it had a better safety profile.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Shiqun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Meiping
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland).
authors.forename: Yaoming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xue
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015210:Arthritis, Gouty / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000077613:Etoricoxib; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013450:Sulfones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011725:Pyridines; D013450:Sulfones; D011239:Prednisolone; D000077613:Etoricoxib; D007213:Indomethacin