Rheumatology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Valdecoxib is as effective as diclofenac in the management of rheumatoid arthritis with a lower incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers: results of a 26-week trial.
To compare the efficacy and upper gastrointestinal (GI) safety of valdecoxib 20 and 40 mg daily with those of diclofenac 75 mg slow release (SR) twice daily in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Single daily doses of valdecoxib 20 and 40 mg provided efficacy comparable to that of diclofenac, with a superior upper GI safety profile in the long-term treatment of RA patients.
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To investigate presenting features, prognostic factors and outcomes of patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis (SNV) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ The main reason for admitting SNV patients to the ICU was active vasculitis, which was often the first manifestation of SNV and led to its diagnosis. ICU disease severity scores at admission were associated with mortality in the ICU but did not predict long-term outcome, unlike BVAS, which accurately predicted long-term outcome but not ICU prognosis for patients admitted to the ICU with active SNV.