Abstract

Increases in joint inflammation in nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis were provoked by withdrawal of their non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Pain score, duration of morning stiffness, Ritchie articular index score, and the number of analgesic tablets consumed reached peaks after five, three, five, and five days respectively compared with values during six days of normal treatment. Changes in serum cytidine deaminase (believed to reflect polymorph turnover in inflamed joints) showed a different pattern, with a sharp peak after two days and a subsequent trough. Possible mechanisms for these differences are discussed.