The safety of celecoxib in ankylosing spondylitis treatment.
BACKGROUND
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) play a crucial role in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Most of the AS patients require a continuous and long-term NSAIDs therapy; therefore the question of NSAIDs safety in this population becomes very important.


OBJECTIVE
to review the safety of celecoxib in ankylosing spondylitis treatment.


METHODS
The PubMed database was searched using the keywords 'ankylosing spondylitis' and 'celecoxib', with the following extraction of clinical trials investigating efficacy and safety of celecoxib in AS.


CONCLUSIONS
Four clinical trials were found: three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and one open-label extension of a previous RCT. All RCTs showed a good safety profile for celecoxib treatment in AS, similar to that of nonselective NSAIDs. However, long-term (>or= 1 year) celecoxib safety in AS was not investigated in RCTs. Based on the results of long-term non-AS celecoxib studies, most of the AS patients (because of young age and fewer comorbidities) are probably at low risk for cardiovascular and gastrointestinal complications. Celecoxib showed a good efficacy and safety profile in AS, but further investigations are needed to clarify the long-term safety of celecoxib in this group of patients.
Poddubnyy
Denis A
DA
Charité - Campus Benjamin Franklin, Rheumatology, Medical Department I, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
Song
In-Ho
IH
Sieper
Joachim
J
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068579:Celecoxib; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068579:Celecoxib