[Comparative double blind study of pirprofen, indomethacin, and placebo in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the spine].

137 out-patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the spine were treated for two-weeks by pirprofen (600 mg/day), indomethacin (75 mg/day), or placebo. At the end of the trial, spontaneous pain disappeared in 47% of patients in the pirprofen group, 38% in the indomethacin group, and 17% in the placebo group. The efficacy of pirprofen and indomethacin, compared to the placebo, is demonstrated with respect to both spontaneous pain (p less than 0,01) and functional disorders (p less than 0,05). Side effects, especially digestive, were noted in 29% of patients treated by pirprofen, 33% of those treated by indomethacin and 17% of those on placebo. Tolerance was satisfactory in 86%, 80% and 90% of patients. Pirprofen is thus judged an effective drug for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the spine.