[An evaluation of the therapeutic activity and tolerance of ST-679 in patients with osteoarthritis at different sites. A controlled double-blind study vs tolmetin].

A multicentered study was carried out, under double-blind conditions, on 160 elderly patients afflicted with differently localized symptomatic osteoarthritis, for the purpose of evaluating the therapeutical efficacy and tolerability of ST-679 (per-os at a dose of 1200 mg pro die in 80 patients) and to compare them with those of tolmetin (per os at a dose of 1200 mg pro die in 80 patients). It was demonstrated that ST-679 was significantly active on all of the clinical parameters of the illness already recorded after a month of treatment. ST-679 was always excellently tolerated as shown by the scarce incidence of adverse reactions. Results of laboratory tests, of tests for hidden blood in the feces and of a gastroduodenoscopy confirmed the excellent biological and gastric tolerability of ST-679. ST-679 demonstrated, moreover, a significantly better tolerability with respect to tolmetin.