A long-term study of flurbiprofen in rheumatological disorders: I. Rheumatoid arthritis.

Eight hundred and forty-two patients undergoing treatment for rheumatoid arthritis in hospital centres in the United Kingdom were evaluated as part of a long-term, variable dose study of the efficacy and safety of flurbiprofen in 1,396 patients with a variety of rheumatological disorders. Highly significant (p less than 0.001) improvements were evident in morning stiffness, grip strength, joint size, articular index and functional capacity at the end of the 18-month observation period reported here, as was a decrease in pain severity in all sub-groups, including those patients entering the study because of lack of effect of their previous therapy. Global assessments by doctor and patient showed highly significant improvements over this time period for both young and older patients, in whom objective improvements were less striking. Sixty-four per cent of side-effects reported were gastro-intestinal, CNS side-effects (headache, giddiness) accounting for 14%. The incidence varied according to whether or not concomitant therapy was being prescribed. Side-effects in the elderly were similar in nature to those in younger patients.