Arthritis and Pain News:

Study: Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis Should Avoid Long-Term Use of NSAIDs

Patients with knee osteoarthritis should avoid long term use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to a study reported in the November 22 online edition of the British Medical Journal.

According to the study, current guidelines recommend the use of oral NSAIDs in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. NSAIDs are used regularly by half of all patients with painful osteoarthritis.

Researchers in Norway analyzed 23 trials to estimate the pain relieving effects of NSAIDs in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The final sample involved 10,845 patients, including 7767 who received NSAIDs and 3078 who received a placebo.

The researchers found that NSAIDs can reduce short term pain slightly better than placebo, but it does not support long term use of NSAIDs for this condition. The advantage of oral NSAIDs over a placebo for short term pain relief is small and probably clinically insignificant, they add.

"As use of oral NSAIDs may incur serious adverse effects, they can only be recommended for limited use in osteoarthritis of the knee," the researchers concluded.

Source: Medical Week Staff, week of November 27, 2004