[Beta-cyclodextrin-piroxicam in the treatment of the active phase of osteoarthritic pathology].

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity of the beta-cyclodextrin-piroxicam (beta CDP) complex was assessed in a randomized single-blind controlled parallel study vs nabumetone (NAB). Forty patients, 18 men and 22 women aged 18 to 65 and suffering from chronic osteoarthritis, were treated. Both drugs were orally administered, once a day in the morning, for 4 consecutive weeks. PI and SPID, evaluated for 24 hours following the first drug administration, showed a quicker onset of the analgesic action of beta CDP, with statistically significant differences between treatments (p less than 0.05). In the medium-term treatment, beta CDP proved to be more effective on joint swelling, spontaneous pain, pain on passive movement and functional limitation. Both treatments were well tolerated but a higher gastro-intestinal side-effect incidence was recorded in NAB group.