[A new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug pirprofen (rengasil) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthrosis].

The results of a double blind clinical study of pirprofen, as compared to piroxicam and placebo in 197 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as compared to piroxicam in 200 patients with gonarthrosis and/or coxarthrosis, and as compared to naproxen in 165 patients with lumbar spondylosis, are reviewed. In rheumatoid arthritis, pirprofen (1200 mg daily) was significantly superior to placebo, and proved in some respects more active than piroxicam where its daily dose was 20 mg. In patients with osteo-arthrosis affecting major joints and the spine, pirprofen (800 mg daily) showed the same therapeutic effects as piroxicam (20 mg) and naproxen (1000 mg). Owing to its obvious anti-inflammatory effect and good tolerance, pirprofen merits large-scale use in rheumatology.