Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs

Abstract

The number of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID's) available for use in the United States has tripled since they were last reviewed here in 1974.¹ Although there are several uses for these drugs, the rheumatic diseases remain the most common inflammatory conditions for which they are employed. More than fifty antirheumatic compounds are currently under investigation.² The damage to joints that occurs in the rheumatic diseases is related to the intensity of the inflammatory process. Thus, reduction of inflammation during periods of disease activity should retard the rate at which tissues such as articular cartilage are damaged. Unfortunately, due to the . . .