Safety and Efficacy of Celecoxib Versus Diclofenac in the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

• Drug: Celecoxib
  
  200 mg oral capsule once daily for 12 weeks
• Drug: Celecoxib
  
  200 mg oral capsule twice daily for 12 weeks
• Drug: Diclofenac
  
  75 mg oral capsule twice daily for 12 weeks

• Experimental: A
  
  Intervention: Drug: Celecoxib
• Experimental: B
  
  Intervention: Drug: Celecoxib
• Active Comparator: C
  
  Intervention: Drug: Diclofenac

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis defined according to modified New York criteria, and with axial involvement
• Requiring daily treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during the previous 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with inflammatory enterophathy, and with extra-articular manifestations
• Patients with known vertebral compression
• Received corticosteroids 6 weeks prior to the baseline visit; patients on stable dose of prednisolone equivalents ? 10 mg/ day for at least 14 days before randomization were permitted