Arthritis and rheumatism
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Nov 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEffects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a standardized and highly concentrated extract of 2 ginger species, Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga (EV.EXT 77), in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. ⋯ A highly purified and standardized ginger extract had a statistically significant effect on reducing symptoms of OA of the knee. This effect was moderate. There was a good safety profile, with mostly mild GI adverse events in the ginger extract group.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Jul 2001
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialStratification of flare intensity identifies placebo responders in a treatment efficacy trial of patients with osteoarthritis.
Studies evaluating osteoarthritis treatment often use increased arthritis activity ("flare") as a selection criterion, although no standardized assessments are available to quantify flare intensity and little is known about how this criterion affects treatment comparisons. This study evaluated the reliability of a flare assessment and how pretreatment flare intensity impacts conclusions on treatment efficacy. ⋯ Patients with higher intensity flares may be more likely to report substantial improvement in functional status regardless of treatment. Failure to account for flare intensity in analyses of data from pain trials with flare-based designs may inflate the risk of Type I and Type II errors in the interpretation of study results.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Oct 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialEfficacy and safety of diacerein in osteoarthritis of the knee: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Diacerein Study Group.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diacerein, a drug with interleukin-1beta--inhibitory activity in vitro, in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ Diacerein, a drug for the treatment of OA, was shown to be an effective treatment for symptoms in patients with knee OA. Taking into account both efficacy and safety, the optimal daily dosage of diacerein for patients with knee OA is 100 mg/day (50 mg twice daily).
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Aug 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialRandomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of low-dose oral methotrexate in children with extended oligoarticular or systemic arthritis.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can persist through adolescence and adulthood, resulting in significant disability. The use of low-dose oral methotrexate (MTX) for persistent polyarthritis has been shown to be effective by the USA/USSR collaborative study group. However, 2 of the most disabling subgroups of JIA, systemic and extended oligoarthritis, were underrepresented in that study. The present study was therefore conducted to investigate the efficacy of MTX in these 2 subgroups. ⋯ MTX 15-20 mg/m2 given orally once a week was found to be an effective treatment for both extended oligoarticular and systemic JIA in this shortterm trial. Long-term efficacy needs to be addressed in future studies.
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Arthritis and rheumatism · Apr 1998
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialOral iloprost treatment in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis: a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.
To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of an oral preparation of iloprost, a prostacyclin analog, in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) secondary to systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). ⋯ Oral iloprost at a dosage of 50 microg twice daily is no better than placebo for management of RP secondary to scleroderma, either during 6 weeks of treatment or during 6 weeks of posttreatment followup.