Clinical Study of Meloxicam/Nabumetone in the Treatment of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of meloxicam with nabumetone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). METHODS: Doubleblind, randmized, controlled clinical trail of meloxicam versus nabumetone was assigned. The treated group was given with meloxicam 15 mg.d-1 and the controlled group was given with nabumetone 1000 mg.d-1; The course was 4 weeks. RESULTS: 40 patients completed 1 course and 16 patients completed 2 courses. Meloxicam and nabumetone could improve the clinical index greatly. The total efficacy rates of the treated group and the controlled group were 60%(n=20); 55.00%(n=20) after 4 weeks respectively and both were 87.5% after weeks. There was no statistical significance in the efficacy rates between the two groups (P0.05).The incidence of adverse effects was 10% (2 cases) in the treated group and 10.00%(2 cases) in the controlled group. There is no difference between the two groups(p0.05). But the adverse reactions were more tolerable in meloxicam group than that in nabumetone group. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that meloxicam be an effective and more safe drug for active rheumatoid arthritis in our country.