To compare the time to presentation of the analgetic and anti-inflammatory effects of granulated and tablet nimesulide and sodium diclofenac since the start of therapy for gouty arthritis (GA).
Ninety males with gout were randomized into 3 equal groups. The patients were included in the study by the following criteria: a documented diagnosis of gout (Wallace S. criteria), age over 18 years, acute arthritis for less than 3 weeks, affection of 4 and more joints. For 7 days patients of group 1 received nimesil (200 mg/day), those of group 2--aponil (200 mg/day), group 3 --sodium diclofenac (150 mg/day). Swelling, articular, pain indices were estimated daily for 7 days.
Patients of group 1 (nimesil) experienced pain relief on min 20; patients taking nimesulide (aponil) experienced pain attenuation within the first hour. Pain (at rest and movement) and the indices declined faster in group 1 than in group 2 as well as in groups 1 and 2 compared to group 3. Arthritis was arrested in 24 (80%) patients of group 1, 11 (36%) of group 2 and 4 (13%) of group 3.
Efficacy of nimesulide for arrest of an acute gout attack exceeds that of sodium diclofenac. Granulated nimesulide has advantages over tablets.