PTGS2 and atherosclerosis: We know this because mice lacking COX-2 are prone to atherosclerosis,12–16 thrombosis,17–19 and hypertension8,19 and because the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) class of drugs, which all work by blocking COX-2-derived prostaglandin (PG)E2 and other prostanoids at the site of inflammation, cause much reported cardiovascular side effects.