[The uric acid-lowering effect of diflunisal]. / Zur harnsäuresenkenden Wirkung von Diflunisal.

20 patients with elevated serum uric acid levels and osteoarthritis of the hip or knee were given diflunisal 500 mg b.i.d. The joint complaints were influenced good to excellent in all patients. The uric acid levels were decreased from 7.37 to 6.22 mg/dl for the duration of this eight week open study. Diflunisal can be advocated also for the treatment of gout.

Relationship between renin mRNA and renin secretion in adrenalectomized, salt-depleted, or converting enzyme inhibitor-treated rats.

Renin secretion was stimulated in rats by adrenalectomy (ADX), by treatment with the converting enzyme inhibitor enalapril (MK 421), or by feeding a low salt diet plus furosemide treatment (FUR). Relative amounts of renin mRNA were measured by densitometric Northern blot analysis using a 32P-labeled 700 bp mouse submaxillary gland cDNA fragment as hybridization probe. Renin secretion was measured in isolated kidneys taken from pretreated rats. Treatment resulted in a 4.4-, 7- and 12.7-fold increase in total renin mRNA in kidneys of ADX, MK 421 and FUR rats, respectively. Plasma renin levels increased 5-, 9- and 12-fold in ADX, MK 421 and FUR rats, whereas ex vivo secretion rates from the isolated kidney were 4.7-, 0.5- and 4.2-fold, respectively, that of controls. Thus, a close relationship between increases in renin secretion in vivo (reflected by plasma renin concentration) and renin mRNA exists, whereas secretion rates in the isolated perfused kidney ex vivo change in a non-proportional fashion.

[Comparison of the effects of diflunisal, ibuprofen and placebo in chronic polyarthritis]. / Wirkungsvergleich von Diflunisal, Ibuprofen und Plazebo bei der chronischen Polyarthritis.

Diflunisal, a new nonsteroidal, Aspirin-like anti-inflammatory agent has been compared with Ibuprofen und Placebo in a six-week double-blind randomized crossover controlled study in 24 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. There was a statistically significant improvement for all variables while on Diflunisal and Ibuprofen. Adverse reactions were seen in each of the three treatment groups. Clinical determinations and physiological examinations gave no indication of any potential harm from therapy with Diflunisal.

[Comparison of the efficacy of diflunisal and acetylsalicylic acid in rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)]. / Wirkungsvergleich von Diflunisal mit Azetylsalizylsäure bei Polyarthritis chronica.

Diflunisal, a new difluorophenyl derivative of salicylic acid was compared with acetylsalicylic acid in 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a double-blind study during 8 weeks. All patients who had taken Diflunisal and showed a good therapeutic response were treated with Diflunisal over additional 24 weeks. Diflunisal showed a statistically significant better efficacy than acetylsalicylic acid in all subjective and objective parameters. Above all the grip strength improved greatly in the Diflunisal group. In the patients who were included in the following 24 week study with Diflunisal the successful treatment could be continued through the whole study period. Day-pain and morning stiffness showed statistically significant improvement. Side effects appeared during the double-blind study only in the acetylsalicylic acid group. The results of the study showed Diflunisal in an average dosage of 500 to 1000 mg per day to be a useful drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis not least due to the negligible side effects.

[Sulindac: Clinical test of a new antiinflammatory agent in rheumatoid arthritis (author's transl)]. / Sulindac: Klinische Prüfung eines neuen Antiphlogisticums bei der chronischen Polyarthritis

Sulindac, a new non steroidal antiinflammatory agent has been compared with acetylsalicylic-acid in a six week controlled double blind study in 28 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In continuation of this study all patients have been treated with Sulindac up to 18 months. Sulindac has proved to be statistically significant superior to acetylsalicylic-acid as regarding the achieve of pain during the day, of morning stiffness, of gripping of the right hand and evaluation of patients response to the drug. Moreover markedly fewer adverse reactions especially of the gastrointestinal tract were seen. During the following long term study, when 19 patients were treated with Sulindac, a further statistically significant improvement of all controlled parameters up to the complete relief of complaints was observed. A reduction of the daily dose could be established. Laboratory evaluations as well as controlls of EKG and blood pressure showed no evidence of any organ toxicity of this drug.