Clinical evaluation of ketoprofen (Orudis) in rheumatoid arthritis. Results of a multi-centre, double-blind, cross-over trial against phenylbutazone.

In a multi-centre, double-blind, cross-over trial comprising 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, ketoprofen was given at a dosage of 150 mg daily and phenylbutazone at a dosage of 300 mg daily, each for 2 weeks. On the basis of patient preference, general evaluation of the disease, morning stiffness, pain on movement and need for analgesics (dextropropoxyphene), it could be concluded that there was no significant difference between phenylbutazone and ketoprofene, although a tendency to more frequent and severe side-effects was seen with pehnylbutazone.