AN OPEN COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF PARENTERAL PIROXICAM AND PARENTERAL LYSINE ACETYLSALICYLATE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE PAINFUL ARTICULAR ATTACKS OF SICKLE-CELL DISEASE

The clinical efficacy and safety of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal anti-inf lammatory drug, and of lysine acetylsalicylate, a traditional analgesi c agent, were compared in 100 patients suffering acute painful articul ar attacks of sickle celt disease. In this open-label, comparative stu dy, 56 patients received intramuscular piroxicam 40 mg for the first 2 days and 20 mg on the third day, while 44 patients received 2 gm dail y of intramuscular lysine acetylsalicylate for 3 days. Pain intensity, limitation of movement, agitation, fever, and insomnia were assessed at baseline (day 0), and on days 1, 2, and 3. Piroxicam showed a stati stically superior efficacy and more rapid onset of action than lysine acetylsalicylate. Both treatment regimens were equally well tolerated. Results of this study confirm the efficacy of anti-inflammatory agent s in the therapeutic management of acute attacks of sickle cell diseas e.