A multi-centre study of tiaprofenic acid ('Surgam') and five comparative drugs in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis in general practice.

Two multi-centre studies were carried out in general practice comparing tiaprofenic acid ('Surgam') with five other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, piroxicam and benoxaprofen), one in rheumatoid arthritis and one in osteoarthritis. Two hundred and seventy-seven general practitioners provided completed case records for 856 patients, 373 with rheumatoid arthritis and 483 with osteoarthritis. Approximately half of the patients received tiaprofenic acid and the remainder one of the other drugs. Results showed that tiaprofenic acid was at least as effective as the other drugs. The incidence of side-effects was similar for each group except in the osteoarthritis trial where there was a higher incidence in the patients receiving indomethacin. The overall withdrawal rate from each trial was 4.6% and 5.2% in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, respectively.