[Steroid saving effect of naproxen].

Since for various reasons the Lansbury Index appeared inadequate to define the therapeutic efficacy of antirheumatic compounds, we chose to investigate in our trials the prednisolone saving effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Our investigations with the new antirheumatic substance d-2-(6'-methoxy-2'-naphthyl)-propionic acid (naproxen) in most cases showed a prednisolone saving effect of 5 mg/day with a naproxen dose of 750 mg daily. In cases where a daily dose of 10 mg of prednisolone was necessary, a saving of 7.5 mg up to 10 mg was registered. But there were also failures and lesser saving effects. The steroid saving effect differs from one individual to another. In an additional study naproxen in a daily dose of 500 mg was compared with other antirheumatic agents (indometacin, azapropazon, and nifluminic acid) in patients not requiring steroids. The results were not uniform. In some cases naproxen was more effective, in other cases the substances mentioned were better. In these series joint function and subjective changes only were evaluated. Apart from a few cases of gastrointestinal side effects the drug was well tolerated.