Effect of topical administration of antiinflammatory drugs to rats with adjuvant arthritis.

Oral or intramuscular administration of antiinflammatory agents produces numerous undesirable side effects. This work explores the hypothesis that topical administration of such agents directly to the site of inflammation would have beneficial antiinflammatory effects. Topical administration of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs to rats with adjuvant arthritis was as effective as oral or intramuscular administration. Peak blood levels of radioactivity following administration of equal doses of hydrocortisone-3H were considerably lower after topical administration than after oral administration.