HSS Doctors Available to Comment on COX-2 Inhibitors and NSAIDs

New York, NY—December 22, 2004

The latest news about a National Cancer Institute study finding an increased risk of heart attacks among patients taking Celebrex®, which follows Merck's voluntary withdrawal of Vioxx®, is causing concern among patients afflicted by a variety of orthopedic and rheumatic conditions who take Cox-2 inhibitors.  Another study released on Dec. 20 suggested possible heart attack risk from Aleve®.  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 COX-2 inhibitors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and how recent data can be put into context for patients:

Theodore R. Fields, MD, FACP
Associate Attending Physician
Available 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, MD
Attending Physician
Available 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

Thomas J.A. Lehman, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology
Available to discuss: Implications for children with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lehman, author of It's Not Just Growing Pains, published by Oxford University Press, devotes a section of the book to the various medications available to children with rheumatic diseases and the reasons for taking medications even if they pose potential risks to children.

Scott A. Rodeo, MD
Clinician-scientist, Department of Orthopedic Surgery (Sports Medicine Service) and the Research Department (Laboratory for Soft Tissue Research) and Associate team physician for New York Giants
Available to discuss:  Implications for athletes and sports injuries

Michael D. Lockshin, MD
Attending Rheumatologist
Director, Barbara Volcker Center for Women and Rheumatic Disease
Available to discuss: Alternatives for patients suffering from rheumatic diseases

Seth A. Waldman, MD
Assistant Attending Anesthesiologist
Director, Division of Pain Medicine
Available to discuss: The use of NSAIDs in a comprehensive pain medication regimen, and how this has changed with the new recalls