Transsynovial kinetics of piroxicam in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Summary Twenty-four patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, who required articular puncture, participated in this open label study. Following a washout period of 7 days piroxicam 20 mg was administered once daily for 7 days.The average drug concentration in a dose interval in plasma fluctuated between 4.45 µg/ml and 8.02 µ/ml, and in synovial fluid it ranged between 4.16 µg/ml and 5.55 µg/ml. Piroxicam was eliminated from plasma with a half-life of 41.7 h and 43.2 h from synovial fluid as calculated from measured and interpolated data from all patients.Despite the short treatment period, clinical improvement could clearly be demonstrated.