Multicentre trial of piroxicam in ambulant rheumatology.

A total of 8299 patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthrosis, ankylosing spondylitis or non-articular rheumatism were included in a large non-comparative multicentre study. In all, 98% of the patients reported some functional disability at baseline. At the final visit, only 20% had more pronounced incapacity. Pain, as assessed by the physician, was reduced by 44%. Overall, 70% of the patients having had recent treatment with a NSAID (n = 5489) rated current piroxicam treatment as better. The toleration of the piroxicam treatment was good. A total of 17% of the patients reported side effects, mainly from the gastrointestinal tract. Gastroduodenal ulcers were reported by 5 patients (0.06%).