[Antirheumatic treatment in old age and its effect on kidney function].

25 geriatric patients with normal renal function and ten patients with impaired renal function were treated with piroxicam (Felden) for osteoarthritis of the major joints. The objective was to determine the efficacy and toleration of the drug and, in particular, renal parameters and--in the case of the patients with renal insufficiency--the plasma levels of the drug. Piroxicam improved both pain and restricted movement in both groups and it caused only few side effects. The specific laboratory values did not change in the patients with normal renal function, while renal parameters sometimes even improved in the patients with renal insufficiency during the treatment with piroxicam. Piroxicam did not accumulate in these patients despite the impaired renal function; the plasma levels corresponded to those found in patients with normal renal function.