Newswise — The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Cox-2 inhibitor Celebrex for use in treating a form of arthritis in the spine called ankylosing spondylitis. The disease affects more than 400,000 Americans, typically between the ages of 17 and 35, Pfizer said in a statement. Ankylosing spondylitis can also cause inflammation, pain and stiffness in the shoulders, knees, hips, ribs and feet. Whether patients are recovering from joint replacement surgery or sports injuries, or suffering from arthritis, osteoarthritis or lupus, they are looking to their healthcare practitioners to help them put this data into perspective and help them make the right treatment decisions. The following Hospital for Special Surgery doctors are available to comment on ankylosing spondylitis and treatments, including options other than Celebrex: Theodore R. Fields, MD, FACPAssociate Attending PhysicianAvailable to discuss: Medication alternatives to COX-2 inhibitors, non-medication approaches to arthritis, the COX-2 selective vs non-selective anti-inflammatory agents. Joseph A. Markenson, MDAttending PhysicianAvailable to discuss: Current drug studies involving patients with rheumatic disease (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and lupus), medication alternatives to COX-2s, reasons for withdrawal of Vioxx®, non-medication approaches to arthritis, the COX-2 selective vs non-selective anti-inflammatory agents. Linda A. Russell, MD Assistant Attending Physician Available to discuss: rheumatic disease and orthopedic pharmacology, osteoporosis treatment, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, soft tissue rheumatism Anne R. Bass, MDAssistant Attending Physician Available to discuss: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, soft tissue rheumatism, lyme disease, vasculitis, inflammatory eye disease For a discussion of the latest effects of Celebrex® on arthritis patients, please visit:http://www.hss.edu/Professionals/Conditions/Rheumatoid-Arthritis/Pfizer---Safety-Of-Celecoxib For a discussion of how to reduce the side effects of COX-2 inhibitors " the group of drugs in which Vioxx® and Celebrex® belong " please visit: http://www.hss.edu/Conditions/Arthritis/Reduce-Side-Effects-Of-Cox-2
For more information on the Vioxx® voluntary withdrawal, please visit:http://www.hss.edu/Departments/Rheumatology/Conditions-and-Treatments/vioxx http://www.hss.edu/Departments/Rheumatology/Conditions-and-Treatments/Vioxx-Lockshin For information on the Vioxx® withdrawal and its implications for the management of osteoarthritis for patients, please visit: http://www.hss.edu/Conditions/Osteoarthritis/Osteoarthritis-Overview About HSSFounded in 1863, the Hospital for Special Surgery is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. Ranked No. 2 in orthopedics and No. 3 in rheumatology by U.S. News and World Report, HSS was awarded Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. A member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Medical College of Cornell University, HSS provides orthopedic and rheumatologic patient care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital at New York Weill Cornell Medical Center. All HSS medical staff are on the faculty of Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Its Research Institute is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. The hospital is located in New York City, www.hss.edu.
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