Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in postmenopausal women with an inflammatory phenotype of osteoarthritis

Introduction . Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are currently the mainstay of the management for relieving pain syndrome in osteoarthritis (OA). NSAIDs are characterized by an individual reaction to medication, as well as a quite high frequency of gastrointestinal side effects. The issue of the disadvantages and advantages of a particular group of NSAIDs is still open. Aim . To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Meloxicam at a dose of 15 mg/day as compared with Nimesulide and placebo in postmenopausal women with an inflammatory phenotype of OA. Results and discussion . The frequency of all adverse events was comparable among the group of patients receiving meloxicam (40.0%), and lower than in the nimesulide group (48.0%), but higher than in the placebo group. A decrease in pain syndrome was observed as early as at 2 weeks of treatment in the group of patients receiving meloxicam. A significant decrease in WOMAC scores (overall result, pain syndrome, stiffness, function) was observed in the group of patients receiving meloxicam, and in the group of patients receiving nimesulide, after 3 weeks of treatment. meloxicam and nimesulide demonstrated high efficacy at 3 weeks compared with the initial VAS scores. The placebo group showed no efficacy. Conclusion . The frequency of all adverse events was lower while taking meloxicam as compared to nimesulide. Our results substantiate the concept to prescribe meloxicam at a dose 15 mg once daily for the treatment of pain and stiffness in post-menopausal women with OA.