Multi-Centre Double-Blind Cross-Over Trial Comparing Naproxen and Aspirin in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Forty-two patients entered a double-blind cross-over trial in which daily total doses of 500 mg of naproxen and 4 g of aspirin were taken for consecutive 4-week periods. Thirty-six took both drugs, 28 completing the full 8 weeks. In the 36 patients taking both drugs statistically significant improvement occurred on treatment with both drugs in functional class, the amount of spontaneous and movement pain and grip strength. The number of joints which were painful on active non weight-bearing movement decreased. Improvement in morning stiffness occurred only with aspirin and a decrease in total PIP measure only with naproxen. Naproxen in a daily dose of 500 mg was therapeutically equivalent to 4 g of aspirin. The occurrence of side-effects from naproxen was low and the difference in incidence from that induced by aspirin was statistically highly significant, p<0.001.