Ketoprofen (Orudis) in ankylosing spondylitis.

A double-blind cross-over study is described in which ketoprofen (Orudis) is compared with phenylbutazone in 14 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Results indicated a significant patient preference for phenylbutazone with greater improvement in the ESR. However, the absence of objective and laboratory deterioration with ketoprofen, when compared with the initial, or control, assessments, suggests that it may prove a useful alternative to phenylbutazone in spondylitic disease.