Ketoprofen (Orudis) in doses of 100-200 mg daily was given to 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 14 patients with osteoarthritis. Relief of pain and reduction of inflammation was 50% or more when the drug was given in appropriate doses. The degree of response in degenerative joint disease was better than that in the inflammatory arthritis. Gastrointestinal tolerance of the drug was good and only minor side effects were observed in less than 25% of the patients. The drug was discontinued in only one patient because of side effects.
