title: Efficacy of cyclooxygenase-2-specific inhibitors.
abstract: Conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit both cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The clinical efficacy of NSAIDs is primarily related to the inhibition of COX-2 activity, whereas much of the toxicity, particularly gastrointestinal toxicity, is related to COX-1 inhibition. In vitro and in vivo assays indicate that both COX-2-specific inhibitors and conventional NSAIDs are equally effective in inhibiting COX-2, suggesting that the clinical efficacy of COX-2-specific inhibitors should be similar to that of conventional NSAIDs. Multiple studies in patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and acute pain have now confirmed that the clinical efficacy of COX-2-specific inhibitors is similar to that of conventional NSAIDs.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and the Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Cannon
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Breedveld
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D000068579:Celecoxib; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012107:Research Design; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013450:Sulfones; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000068579:Celecoxib