First- and second-order multivariate calibration of fluorescence data have been compared as regards the determination of anti-inflammatories and metabolites in the biological fluids serum and urine. The simultaneous resolution of naproxen-salicylic acid mixtures in serum and naproxen-salicylic acid-salicyluric acid mixtures in urine was accomplished and employed for a discussion of the relative advantages of the applied chemometric tools. The analysis of second-order fluorescence excitation-emission matrices was performed using iteratively reweighted generalized rank annihilation method (IRGRAM), parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), and self-weighted alternating trilinear decomposition (SWATLD). The results were compared with first-order fluorescence emission data analyzed with partial least-squares regression (PLS). In all cases, the performance of the methods was improved through the formation of inclusion complexes of the analytes with beta-cyclodextrin. The concentration ranges in which the analytes could be determined were as follows: naproxen, 0-250 ng mL(-1) in serum and 0-200 ng mL(-1) in urine; salicylic acid, 0-500 ng mL(-1) in serum and 0-300 ng mL(-1) in urine, and salicyluric acid, 0-300 ng mL(-1) in urine.