RESUMEN
This study was conducted by 50 leading family physicians and consultants scattered throughout Pakistan to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of Pirprofen in non-articular rheumatism in Asian populations. A total of 199 subjects suffering from soft tissue rheumatism completed 2 weeks therapy. Evaluation of patient's condition was made on days 0, 7 and 14, seven target symptoms and signs were evaluated on four point scale [i.e. absent, mild, moderate or severe]. At the end of two weeks of treatment each patient gave his own evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment and physician made his final assessment. Pirprofen was found to be an efficacious drug in treatment of soft tissue rheumatism in Pakistani patients, and its tolerability compared well with other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Marked response to treatment was found in each of 7 signs and symptoms studied even after only one week of treatment. This is particularly encouraging as these were precisely the signs and symptoms that would have kept a person from work, or prevented him from performing without restrictions his routine day to day activities. In this study the rapid onset of analgesic effect and improvement of symptoms with low incidence of side effects establishes Pirprofen as a drug of choice for treatment of soft tissue rheumatism
RESUMEN
One hundred and thirty four patients suffering from Soft Tissue Rheumatism were selected and treated with a single morning dose of Diclofenac Sodium [Voltaren SR 100] for duration of two weeks. No other antirheumatic medication or analgesic was permitted during the study period. Evaluation of the patient's condition at each visit was made on a four point scale. At the end of two weeks of treatment, patient gave his own evaluation on the effectiveness of treatment and physician made his final assessment. After one week of treatment, symptom scores, in all their target symptoms, were decreased in 80% of patients. After two weeks of treatment symptom scores had decreased in 90% of patients, and of these 55% were totally symptom free, and another 35% of patients had shown improvement in their symptoms. The medication was evaluated by the physician to be very effective in 81 patients [60.5%], moderately effective in 48 [36%] and ineffective in only 5 [3.5%] patients. Side effects were observed in 14 patients [10%]; they were transient, of mild nature, and in no instance did the treatment have to be prematurely discontinued because of side effects. The result of this study suggests that Voltaren SR 100 is a preparation which combines great efficacy and good tolerability with ease of dosage compliance and is very suitable under ambulatory out-patient or general practice treatment of Soft Tissue Rheumatism