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Effects of aspirin, naloxone and placebo

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Summary

This study was designed to examine the effects of aspirin, naloxone and placebo treatment on serum beta-endorphin concentration and joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Ten patients with definite or classical RA were studied. All treatments were administered in a randomized sequence. On each study day, the following measurements were carried out at specified time intervals: serum beta-endorphin concentration, serum salicylate concentration and joint pain score on a visual analogue horizontal scale. We conclude that in patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffering from chronic joint pain, serum beta-endorphin does not appear to play a role in pain relief.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University Health Science Centre, 1200 Main Street West, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    A. A. M. Mewa, E. M. Grace &  W. W. Buchanan

  2. Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University Health Science Centre, 1200 Main Street West, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    G. Norman

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Services, McMaster University Health Science Centre, 1200 Main Street West, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    D. Rosenbloom

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, 2065, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    P. Brooks

  5. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Victoria Hospital, Westminster Campus, 777 Baseline Road East, N6A 4S2, London, Ontario, Canada

    N. Bellamy

  6. Scott Research Laboratory, Fairview General Hospital, 18101 Lorain Avenue, 44111, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    C. Denko

Authors
  1. A. A. M. Mewa
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  2. D. Rosenbloom
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  3. E. M. Grace
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  4. P. Brooks
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  5. N. Bellamy
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  6. C. Denko
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  7. G. Norman
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  8. W. W. Buchanan
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Mewa, A.A.M., Rosenbloom, D., Grace, E.M. et al. Effects of aspirin, naloxone and placebo. Clin Rheumatol 6, 526–531 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02330589

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02330589

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