[Effectiveness of the tenoxicam in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

AIM: To study the changes in pain syndrome and its characteristic in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who received tenoxicam after non-effective treatment with NSAIDs on the 'on-demand' basis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty patients with AS, who had BASDAI ≥4.0 at baseline and after 52 weeks of NSAIDs on the 'on-demand' basis, were randomized into 2 groups: 30 patients were prescribed 20 mg of tenoxicam oraly per day, 10 patients continued previous therapy. The BASDAI, ASDAS indices were calculated in 52 and 56 weeks.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: BASDAI and ASDAS indices decreased in patients treated with tenoxicam, the AS activity in patients with on-demand NSAID intake did not change. The change of the ineffective long-term NSAID intake in the 'on-demand' basis to permanent drug intake was associated with a rapid (within 4 weeks) decrease in the clinical activity of ankylosing spondylitis.