The effect of intra-articular steroids on plasma salicylate concentrations.

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Plasma salicylate concentrations and salicylate clearances were evaluated in 10 patients before and then 3 days after the intra-articular administration of glucocorticoid steroids. All patients were on chronic salicylate treatment, the dosage varying from 1.3-4.6 g day-1 of enteric-coated aspirin. The mean steady state plasma concentration (+/- s.e. mean) of salicylate decreased significantly after intra-articular steroid (90.9 +/- 14.8 mg l-1-64.7 +/- 8.9, P less than 0.05), whilst the mean clearance increased significantly (87.3 +/- 20.6 ml min-1-120.6 +/- 28.3, P less than 0.05). In these paired studies, the intra-articular administration of steroids lead to a significant decrease in plasma salicylate levels in patients taking enteric-coated aspirin.