Efficacy of NSAIDs in the treatment of rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a chemically diverse group of compounds that share three cardinal characteristics; they are anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic. They are approved by regulatory authorities worldwide for the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and some forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. They are also used for the treatment of acute gout, acute pain, dysmenorrhea, and chronic low back pain. This chapter will review the data on the efficacy of this class of agents in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and acute gout.