The effect of anti-inflammatory drugs on glycosaminoglycan sulphation in pig cartilage.

Indomethacin, aspirin and hydrocortisone have been shown to inhibit glycosaminoglycan sulphation in pig costal cartilage discs. The doses at which inhibition was observed varied from pig to pig from 0.1 - 50 microgram/ml for indomethacin, 40 - 150 microgram/ml for aspirin and 0.5 - 1 mg/ml for hydrocortisone, doses which are achieved clinically in the treatment of joint diseases. In a minority of experiments a significant stimulation of glycosaminoglycan sulphation was observed at lower doses of indomethacin and hydrocortisone but not aspirin. THe results suggest that in rheumatoid arthritis but more especially osteoarthritis, treatment with these drugs should aim at finding the lowest doses which have a therapeutic effect. As importantly the clinician should always consider using lower doses just as much as higher doses when the first dose regimen is unsatisfactory.