Celebrex Short Versus Long Therapy In Osteoarthritis Of The Knee

Protocol For A Multicentre, Double Blind, Parallel Group Pilot Study To Compare Celecoxib Long Term Vs Celecoxib Short Term Therapy In Treatment And Prevention Of New Flare In Patients With Osteoarthritis Of The Knee

This is a phase III, multicentre, randomized, double blind, parallel-group, pilot study designed to compare a long term (12 weeks) versus a short term (2 weeks) treatment with celecoxib 200 mg/die in treatment and prevention of new flare in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of OA of the knee according to the ACR Classification Criteria for osteoarthritis;
• patients in flare

Exclusion Criteria:

• any concomitant inflammatory rheumatic condition which may interfere with the assessment of OA
• clinical or radiological evidence of chondrocalcinosis