Final report on the cost of treating arthritic disease: comparison between salicylates and nonsalicylate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

The cost of antacids or other drugs and hospital admission for the treatment of gastrointestinal side effects must be factored into any comparison between costs of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and salicylate drugs in the treatment of arthritis. Records and interviews of 534 patients treated for arthritis, 310 treated with nonsalicylate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and 224 treated with salicylates, were evaluated for this comparison. Costs of the basic drug, medical treatment for gastrointestinal side effects, and hospitalization for such treatment were added, averaged for 30-day per patient treatment periods, and compared.

Ischemic necrosis of bone in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Twenty-three patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and ischemic bone necrosis are reported. All patients had received corticosteroids prior to the onset of ischemic necrosis, although one patient had received none for 13 years previously. Nineteen (83%) patients had multiple bone lesions including the femoral heads in 21 (91%) which were bilaterally involved in 15.