Background: The use of selective cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 inhibitors as an alternative to aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been suggested for patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD).
Objective: To evaluate tolerability to etoricoxib, a second-generation COX-2 inhibitor with high in vitro selectivity for COX-2 in patients with AERD.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of patients with suspected aspirin intolerance seen between October 2007 and April 2012. Single-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges with increasing doses of aspirin and etoricoxib were performed on 3 different days.
Results: Of 262 patients with suspected aspirin intolerance, 248 underwent challenge testing with aspirin and 122 (49.2%) showed positive test results. In 104 of these aspirin-sensitive patients, etoricoxib was tested as an alternative drug and was tolerated in all but 3 (2.9%), who developed a positive asthmatic reaction.
Conclusions: The highly selective COX-2 inhibitor etoricoxib was tolerated in most but not all patients tested. An oral provocation test is therefore recommended before prescribing etoricoxib for patients with AERD.