The antirheumatic effect of benoxaprofen.

This study was undertaken to investigate the antirheumatic activity of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug benoxaprofen. Ten patients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis were assessed before beginning drug therapy, using standard clinical criteria and serological tests of disease activity. These tests were repeated monthly during treatment with benoxaprofen for a period of 6 months. The results showed that benoxaprofen improved clinical parameters of disease activity, including morning stiffness, walking time, tenderness and swelling of joints and pain rating, in 7 of the 10 patients studied. One patient's condition remained unchanged and 2 deteriorated during the trial period. In the group of 7 patients who showed clinical improvement there were significant reductions in serum levels of rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, IgA, IgM and IgE, as well as in erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Five of the 10 patients, all of whom were initially seropositive for rheumatoid factor, became seronegative at the end of the trial and 5 of 6 with raised C-reactive protein levels registered undetectable levels. Although this trial was uncontrolled, these findings indicate that benoxaprofen has antirheumatic properties.