Short-term and long-term open evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of proglumetacin, a new antirheumatic agent.

Thirty-three patients were treated with proglumetacin for acute joint inflammation (11 cases, 450 mg daily for 3 weeks) or chronic rheumatic disorders (22 patients, 300 mg daily for 12 weeks). The results showed that swelling had completely disappeared during the first week and joint pain by the third week of treatment in all the acute cases. In the chronic patients, swelling had completely disappeared by Week 8 but slight pain was still evident in some joints even after 12 weeks. There were significant improvements in morning stiffness, step climbing rate and walking speed and these were greater, although slower, in the chronic patients. No side-effects were reported.