Clinical effects of nimesulide in treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

AIM: To study the clinical effects and side effects of nimesulide in treating osteoarthiritis(OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Sixty OA patients and sixty RA patients were randomly divided into two groups, nimesulide group (30 OA patients and 30 RA patients) received nimesulide 100 mg, po, bid, for 4 wk and control group (30 OA patients and 30 RA patients) were treated with diclofenac 25 mg, po, tid or naproxen 250 mg, po, bid for 4 wk. RESULTS: All clinical indexes were markedly improved (P0.05 or 0.01), but laboratory indices not improved (P0.05), after treatment. The total effective rates were 88% in nimesulied group, and 85% in control group. No significant difference existed between the two groups. The side effects were 3% in nimesulide group and 13% in control group(P0.05). CONCLUSION: nimesulide is a safe nonsteroidal anti_inflammatory drug.