TY - JOUR T1 - Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drug Withdrawal in Patients with Stable Rheumatoid Arthritis JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 2150 LP - 2152 DO - 10.3899/jrheum.101162 VL - 38 IS - 10 AU - GAYLE E. McKELLAR AU - ROSEMARY HAMPSON AU - ANN TIERNEY AU - HILARY A. CAPELL AU - RAJAN MADHOK Y1 - 2011/10/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/38/10/2150.abstract N2 - Objective. To evaluate the effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) withdrawal on blood pressure (BP), 44-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS44), and functional assessments in patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. NSAID was withdrawn from 30 patients with stable RA (DAS44 ≤ 2.8). Other prescribed medication continued. Clinical and laboratory measures were taken at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Results. No participants required NSAID reintroduction during the study period. Significant improvement in systolic BP was noted: maximal median reduction was 7 mm Hg (baseline to 12 weeks). There was no significant deterioration in DAS44 or function. Eleven participants required additional intervention. Conclusion. NSAID withdrawal resulted in improvement in BP without loss of disease control. ER -