The Lancet January 22, 2005

New in Early Online Publication: Up to 140,000 excess cases of coronary heart disease from Vioxx A study by David Graham from the US Food and Drug Administration estimates that between 88,000 and 140,000 Americans developed coronary heart disease as a result of using the arthritis drug Vioxx (rofecoxib). The study shows how people who used Vioxx had a 34% higher chance of coronary heart disease compared with people who used other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Authors of a Comment state that increased attention will now focus on the cardiovascular safety of other COX-2 inhibitors, after the withdrawal of Vioxx in September last year.