A double-blind, crossover trial was carried out to assess the clinical efficacy of 3.6 g aspirin, 1200 mg azapropazone and the two drugs together in 24 adult patients with classical or definite rheumatoid disease. Pain score, morning stiffness and patients' assessment of pain were significantly improved for each drug regimen when compared to placebo. There was no significant difference among the individual drug regimens. Azapropazone was the best drug regimen in terms of improving pain score, morning stiffness and patient assessment of pain, but this was not statistically significant. It is concluded that there is no justification for prescribing aspirin with azapropazone in patients with rheumatoid disease.