Celecoxib is not recommended for those who have an allergy to sulfa-containing medications. In May 1999, a second Cox-2 inhibitor was approved for use in osteoarthritis. Like celecoxib, vioxx appears to have no effect on blood clotting and a low risk of stomach bleeding. It can be taken by people who are allergic to sulfa. Apheresis with the Prosorba Column .
Apheresis is a treatment that removes antibodies from the blood.
A special catheter, like that used for hemodialysis, is placed in a large vein. Blood travels out of the body into a special machine containing the Prosorba column, and then circulates back to the body. When the blood passes through the Prosorba column, antibodies are retained in the column and removed from the blood. The treatments take about two hours each. For rheumatoid arthritis, the treatments are performed once a week for 12 weeks.