Parecoxib as an alternative in COX-2 hypersensitivity.

The group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is commonly involved in hypersensitivity reactions. In clinical practice the physician is often faced with the need to choose an alternative anti-inflammatory agent for a patient who has suffered a hypersensitivity reaction to a NSAID. The most common approach to choosing the safest NSAID is to perform a challenge test. Parecoxib is the first injectable COX-2 selective inhibitor indicated for the treatment of acute postoperative pain. The authors report the case of a patient with a history of cutaneous adverse reactions to different classes of NSAIDs, including selective COX-2 inhibitors, who underwent and tolerated challenge with parecoxib.