Evaluation of the efficacy and comparative effects on gastric and duodenal mucosa of etodolac and naproxen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using endoscopy.

The therapeutic efficacy and upper gastrointestinal side effects of a twice daily dose of 300 mg etodolac and 500 mg naproxen were compared in 30 hospital out-patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Drugs were taken for 4 weeks in a double-blind, randomized, parallel group, single centre study. Rheumatological, endoscopic and laboratory assessments were performed at the start and on completion of the study. Mucosal lesions developed in only three (20%) patients of the etodolac group and they all had low endoscopy scores, compared to eight (53%) patients of the naproxen group with significantly worse endoscopy scores (p less than 0.05). Lesions were asymptomatic in all but one patient (on naproxen), and the gastric antrum was the commonest region involved. Of the 11 patients who developed endoscopic abnormalities in both groups, seven (64%) were moderate to heavy smokers. Etodolac had a similar antiarthritic effect to naproxen, but it appears to be better tolerated by the upper gastrointestinal mucosa as shown by endoscopy.