Efficacy and tolerance of naproxen versus pirprofen in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis.

A double-blind, double-dummy study design was used to compare the efficacy and tolerance of naproxen with that of pirprofen in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Sixty patients were assigned randomly to receive either 500 mg naproxen twice daily or 400 mg pirprofen twice daily for 4 weeks. Both groups were similar in all respects except age, which was significantly greater in the naproxen-treated patients than in the pirprofen-treated patients.

Algodystrophy of the knee. Anatomo-radiological study of a case.

Presentation of a case of algodystrophy (i.e., Sudeck's dystrophy) of the left knee, affecting the femur, tibia and patella.

Meclofenamate sodium in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis. Report of a European double-blind controlled multicenter study.

98 patients with reversible, definite, active ankylosing spondylitis were selected for this study. 49 patients were treated with N-(2,6-dichloro-m-tolyl)anthranilic acid, sodium salt (meclofenamate sodium, Meclomen) and 49 patients with indometacin. Following a single-blind baseline period on placebo, patients received either 200 mg meclofenamate sodium per day or 100 mg indometacin per day for one week, in the second week the doses were increased to 250 mg meclofenamate sodium and 125 mg indometacin and from the third through the eight week 300 mg meclofenamate sodium and 150 mg indometacin were given.

Double-blind multicenter study comparing meclofenamate sodium with indomethacin and placebo in the treatment of extra-articular rheumatic disease.

161 patients with extra-articular or non-articular disorders as acute shoulder syndrome, periarthritis humero scapularis, syndrome of the angular of the scapula, acute olecranon bursitis, acute epicondylitis and/or epitrochleitis or periarthritis of the hip were treated in this double-blind multicenter study. 53 patients received 300 mg N-(2,6-dichloro-m-tolyl)anthranilic acid, sodium salt (meclofenamate sodium, Meclomen) per day for a maximum of 3 weeks, 54 received 150 mg indomethacin per day and 54 received placebo. Meclofenamate sodium was significantly superior to placebo in the treatment of such symptoms as spontaneous pain, pain on motion, tenderness on pressure associated with acute episodes of extra- or non-articular rheumatism as demonstrated by earlier and superior improvement.

A double-blind study of erbium169 synoviorthesis in rheumatoid digital joints. Results after one year.

A double-blind study was made on the effectivenss of erbium169 synoviorthesis in the digital joints of 7 patients with erosive, seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. The study involved 70 joints observed over a 12-month period: 20 pairs of metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) and 15 pairs of proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP) were injected with erbium169 in one joint and saline in the other one. All joints had radiological lesions corresponding to State I and II of the Steinbroker classification.

[Synoviorthesis of finger joints using erbium-169. Parameters influencing the clinical results at middle-term].

Synoviorthesis of the finger joint with erbium-169 is a beneficial therapeutic procedure which produces reduction of articular pain and swelling in 2/3 of cases. The effect is lasting and shows only slight regression during the first 24 months. However, if the rheumatoid disease is very active, or if the articular lesions are primarily erosive, the results are poorer.

[Synoviorthesis of the knee with osmic acid (OsO4). Results at mid-term].

Synoviorthesis of the knee joint with OsO4 is a simple procedure with few short or long term side effects. The substance used is inexpensive and easy to handle. All studies published so far have confirmed its suitability in the treatment of synovitis of the knee and various other joints.

Tendon calcifications in chondrocalcinosis. A clinical, radiologic, histologic, and crystallographic study.

Fine linear extraarticular calcium deposits were found in X-rays of 7 of 52 patients with articular chondrocalcinosis (ACC). Seven Achilles tendons, seven quadriceps tendons, and one plantar fascia were affected. In a control group of comparable age and sex, without ACC but with generalized osteoarthritis, no calcifications were found in the tendons.

Coexistence of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis--report of 10 cases.

The distinction between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has hitherto relied on supporting evidence of characteristic radiological changes in the sacroiliac joints, together with the Rose-Waaler and Latex tests for rheumatoid factor (RF). This distinction has remained incomplete since some 30 per cent of patients with RA may have sacroiliitis, a similar proportion having negative routine tests for RF. The identification of the HLA B27 antigen, present in 90 per cent of cases of AS and six per cent of the normal population, has enabled a number of cases to be recognized in which both diseases appear to co-exist.

Synovial deposit of osmic acid after intra-articular injection. Anatomical and radiologic study of a case.

An anatomical and radiologic study of a synovial autopsy specimen 32 months after an intra-articular injection of osmic acid for the local treatment of a rheumatoid synovitis. Osmium deposits are seen within peripheral cells of a fat lobule and also in a few histiocytes of the scar tissue which replaced the rheumatoid synovitis. These osmium deposits in the fat cells are present in a sufficient quantity to give a radiologic opacity.

Rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis occurring together.

Rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis are often difficult to differentiate, though it is important to do so as the natural history and treatment of the two conditions differ. Nine patients have recently been seen, each of whom fulfilled the criteria for both rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. In eight of the nine patients the histocompatibility antigen HLA-27 was present.

[Destructive arthropathies associated with articular chondrocalcinosis. Clinical and metabolic study of 16 cases].

Sixteen cases of severe destructive arthropathy in elderly persons (13 females and 3 males) suffering from articular chondrocalcinosis are described. The knee is the most commonly affected joint, followed by the hips, shoulders, wrists, elbows and feet. One joint is destroyed in seven patients, 2 joints in five, 3 joints in one and 4 joints in three patients.

Osmium deposits detected by x-ray after synoviorthesis of the knee.

A study of 113 knees of 72 patients treated with intra-articular injection of osmic acid for chronic exudative synovitis caused by various rheumatic diseases is reported. Certain cases presented abnormal radiological opacities, statistically more frequent after the injection of 200 mg than after 100 mg of osmic acid (33.9% and 15.

A study of the incidence of articular chondrocalcinosis in Paget's disease of bone.

Amongst 66 pagetic patients, whose average age (median) was 76 years, 9 cases of ACC were found. This represents an incidence of 13.6% of the whole group.

Radiological opacities of the knee after intra-articular injections of osmic acid.

Unusual radiological opacities have been observed in 29 cases after intraarticular injection of osmic acid in 113 knees of 72 patients under treatment for a chronic exudative synovitis in different types of rheumatic diseases. They are statistically more frequent after the injection of 200 mg than after 100 mg (33.9 and 15.

The immediate effects of intra-articular injections of osmic acid.

One hundred mg of osmic acid (with corticosteroid and lidocaine) was injected for therapeutic purposes into the knee in 10 patients suffering from various types of recalcitrant synovitis (mostly rheumatoid arthritis). The effects of this injection were followed by examination of synovial fluid, blood, and urine of these patients, collected at various intervals after intra-articular injection. As a control, a group of 3 patients (5 knees) received corticosteroid and lidocaine intra-articularly, and another group (6 patients, 7 knees) was injected with lidocaine only, both with the same total volume as the first group.