Clinical profiles of celecoxib and rofecoxib in the rheumatic diseases.

Celecoxib and rofecoxib are highly specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Both agents are as effective as conventional, non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) but they have a markedly reduced propensity to cause injury to the gastroduodenal mucosa compared with conventional NSAIDs. Celecoxib and rofecoxib are approved for treatment of both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This presentation reviews the mechanism of action of these agents, the clinical studies showing their effectiveness for treatment of arthritis, and the gastrointestinal side effect profiles compared with conventional NSAIDs.