An open study of proglumethacin vs. diclofenac in the management of hip and knee osteoarthritis.

Proglumethacin and sodium diclofenac were compared in an open study for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Sixty patients of either sex took part in the study and received in random order 50 mg 3 times daily sodium diclofenac orally and 150 mg 3 times daily soproglumethacin orally. Both drugs induced a significant reduction of pain on active and passive mobilization and under weight stress; non significant improvements were registered for night pain, knee flexion and thigh abduction. Comparison of the two drugs did not reveal significant differences. Side effects, mostly involving the gastrointestinal tract, were reported by 27% of the patients for both drugs. It should be pointed out that proglumethacin, in spite of being an indole derivative, never gave rise to headache.