Etoricoxib in the treatment of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, stiffness, joint swelling. According to epidemiological studies, about one-third of the chronic moderate and severe pain is associated with OA. Currently, OA is considered as a multifactorial disease resulting from the interaction of various genetic, biological, mechanical, and metabolic factors. Inflammation plays a central role in development and progression of ОА. In patients with OA, histological studies of the synovial membrane detected signs of chronic inflammation. The level of some proinflammatory cytokines may increased and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines may decreased in blood serum, synovial fluid and joint tissue. Also, adaptive immune cell responses are detected in the joint tissues in patients of OA. Due to its high effectiveness, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in OA. Oral or local forms of NSAIDs are the drugs of choice in the initial stages of therapy in all guidelines. Etoricoxib is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and is used for the treatment of OA and other rheumatic diseases. The article discusses the use of etoricoxib in patients with OA.