Study: Incidence of Ulcers in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Lower With Vioxx

Vioxx® (rofecoxib) results in less gastrointestinal damage than non-selective non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in rheumatoid arthritis patients, according to a study reported in the June issue of the journal Gut.

A team of British and American researchers found that fewer patients taking Vioxx suffered gastroduodenal ulcers than those taking naproxen, a common treatment for rheumatoid arthritis pain.

The 12-week study involved 660 rheumatoid arthritis patients split into three almost equal groups who received either 50 milligrams of Vioxx once daily, 500 milligrams of naproxen twice daily or a placebo.

The patients underwent an endoscopy at the beginning of the study and again after 12 weeks to check for ulcers equal to or greater than three millimeters. About 26 percent of the patients taking naproxen developed ulcers of this size, compared to 6.8 percent of those taking Vioxx and 2.9 percent of those taking a placebo.

Other sources: Gut 52(6):820-6