Treatment of acute shoulder syndrome with flurbiprofen.

A multi-dose, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate 68 patients with acute bursitis or tendinitis following treatment with flurbiprofen (Ansaid, Upjohn) or placebo. Flurbiprofen was administered in a total daily dosage of 200 to 300 mg four times daily. Based on efficacy rating scales, flurbiprofen-treated patients had the greatest proportion of improvement at almost all time periods. They also showed statistically significant improvement compared with placebo-treated patients, according to investigators' overall assessments at all time periods. Most patients showed improvement within three to four days of treatment. Flurbiprofen was both well tolerated and effective for the relief of pain caused by bursitis or tendinitis of the shoulder.

Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with flurbiprofen or ibuprofen.

Flurbiprofen and ibuprofen were compared in a six-week double-blind randomized study in 208 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Daily dosages were 120 mg flurbiprofen and 2400 mg ibuprofen for six weeks. Both drugs were effective in providing partial control of RA symptoms. Either or both drugs produced statistically significant improvement in mean values of time of onset of fatigue, grip strength and tender and swollen joint counts. All other standard endpoints of efficacy (except ESR) were improved but not at a statistically significant level. Slightly more than half of the patients improved during the trial. There was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of the drugs. The incidence of side effects was low with both drugs. Most side effects were related to gastrointestinal tract irritation.

Ofloxacin versus trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection.

A multicenter randomized study was conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of ofloxacin with that of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in adults. Patients were randomized to receive either oral ofloxacin 200 mg daily for three days (102 patients), or oral TMP/SMX 160 mg/800 mg twice daily for seven days (100 patients). The pathogen was eradicated in 73 (97.3%) of the 75 evaluable patients receiving ofloxacin and in 66 (97.1%) of the 68 evaluable patients receiving TMP/SMX. The most frequently isolated pathogens were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis. More urinary pathogens were susceptible to ofloxacin than to TMP/SMX, although this difference was not statistically significant. The clinical cure rate for patients receiving ofloxacin was 93.3%, with 4% improved and 2.7% failed. For patients receiving TMP/SMX, the clinical cure rate was 86.4%, with 12.1% improved and 1.5% failed. Side effects were reported by 29.7% of the patients receiving ofloxacin and by 40.4% of the patients receiving TMP/SMX. Drug-related adverse experiences, as determined by the investigators, occurred in 5% of the ofloxacin patients and in 15.2% of the TMP/SMX patients, a statistically significant difference. No patients receiving ofloxacin, compared with three patients receiving TMP/SMX, discontinued therapy because of an adverse reaction. These results indicate that short-course ofloxacin is as effective as TMP/SMX in the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection. Ofloxacin therapy is also better tolerated than TMP/SMX.

Response of osteoarthritis to ibuprofen or flurbiprofen.

Flurbiprofen and ibuprofen, two propionic acid derivatives with anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, were compared in a double-blind multiclinic study in 195 patients with osteoarthritis of the peripheral joints. The patients were given 80 mg/day flurbiprofen or 1600 mg/day ibuprofen for six weeks. Pain, subjective evaluation and functional tests improved significantly in both groups. There were no statistically significant differences between the two treatments in any of the responses. Gastro-intestinal side-effects, generally mild, developed in 5-6% of the patients.

Multiple epiphyseal dysplasia. A family case report.

Six cases of multiple epiphyseal dysplasia were found in a 30-member kindred. The kindred showed an increased incidence of other joint abnormalities. A dominant pattern of inheritance was not confirmed.

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis with flurbiprofen or phenylbutazone.

Flurbiprofen (150-200 mg daily) and phenylbutazone (300-400 mg daily) were compared in the management of 27 patients with active ankylosing spondylitis. This was a parallel, double-blind, and randomized trial of 6 weeks duration. Both drugs were equally effective in the relief of pain and tenderness of the affected joints. Overall subjective improvement, assessed by the patient and the investigator at the end of the trial, favored phenylbutazone, but it did not reach a statistically significant level. The mean values of the endpoint parameters of spinal motion showed statistically significant improvement in both groups, except in the Schober test in the flurbiprofen group and chest expansion in the phenylbutazone group. Untoward effects characteristic of these drugs were found in a few patients.

Management of ankylosing spondylitis with flurbiprofen or indomethacin.

The effects of flurbiprofen (150-200 mg daily) and indomethacin (75-100 mg daily) were compared in the management of 26 patients with active ankylosing spondylitis in a parallel, double-blind, and randomized trial of six weeks' duration. No patient in either group withdrew from the study because of lack of efficacy of the drugs. Both drugs were equally effectivein relieving the pain and tenderness of the affected joints. Overall subjective improvement, assessed by the patient and the investigator at the end of the trial, was present in 90% of the patients in the flurbiprofen group and in 75% of the indomethacin group. The mean values of all the spinal motion tests improved in the flurbiprofen group but not in the indomethacin group. Statistically significant improvement of the Schober test was achieved in the flurbiprofen group and of the chest expansion measurement in the indomethacin group. Untoward effects related to the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract were present in a few patients in both groups.