Effects of the nimesulide on clinical variables in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis

Lyudmila Sizova, Genrietta Bagirova
OrGMA, Orenburg, Russian Federation

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used for treatment of the pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). During the past decade interest is increasing in assessing of the effects of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor nimesulide in patients with early RA. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of nimesulide in patients with early RA. The study included 21 outpatients (1 male, 20 females) with early RA (mean age 42.90±13.46 years, mean disease duration 5.98±3.71 months, 3 RF+, 18RF−). All patients received nimesulide 200 mg/day during 3-4 weeks. The clinical variables (morning stiffness duration (min), patient and physician global assessments, global pain assessment by visual analogue scales (0-100 mm), disease activity score by DAS28) were collected at baseline and at 4 weeks. Study results showed that morning stiffness duration reduced from 184.05±312.70 to 133.90±277.00 min (p<0.05); patient global assessment decreased from 61.56±22.73 to 46,59±24,29 mm, physician global assessment decreased from 55.28±19.29 to 41.60±21.35 mm, global pain assessment weakened from 58.70±28.02 to 48.27±32.39 mm (p<0.01). The DAS28 decreased from an initial mean score of 4.81±1.71 to 4.2±1.85 (p<0.01). Patient global assessment correlated with physician global assessment at baseline and at 4 weeks (Spearman r was 0,64 to 0,65 accordingly). Nimesulide represents an effective drug for the treatment of joint pain and stiffness, but it does not give remission of early RA. The treatment course should be long by disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.