Endoscopic studies of nabumetone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A comparative endoscopic and histologic evaluation

Gastric tolerance to 1 g of nabumetone administered in a single nightly dose was assessed in two trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Gastroscopy and histology of mucosal biopsy specimens were performed before and after the end of treatment in both trials. Trial 1 was an open study that compared the effects of 1 g of nabumetone at night with those of naproxen (dose, 500 mg twice daily) and indomethacin (dose, 50 mg three times daily) in 41 hospitalized patients. After three weeks of treatment, nabumetone was significantly better tolerated than naproxen or indomethacin. Trial 2 was a randomized trial with 24 patients per group that compared 1 g of nabumetone given at night with 250 mg of naproxen given in the morning and 500 mg given at night for a period of three months. This single‐blind study revealed that the number of patients with microscopic or macroscopic mucosal lesions was significantly smaller following intake of nabumetone. Concerning efficacy, as judged clinically by a rheumatologist, treatment with nabumetone was superior as well.