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Blood pressure elevation in a patient treated with salsalate
Beth Bryles Phillips1, Jacqueline D Joss, Paul L Mulhausen
1Department of Pharmaceutical Care, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. beth-phillips@uiowa.edu
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|March 29, 2002
Summary
Salsalate, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID), may cause hypertension in elderly patients. Discontinuing salsalate therapy normalized blood pressure in a previously normotensive man, suggesting a link between NSAID use and elevated blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to elevate blood pressure, particularly in patients on antihypertensive medication.
- Salsalate, a salicylate NSAID, is often considered to have minimal impact on blood pressure due to weak cyclooxygenase inhibition.
Observation:
- A case study of a previously normotensive 78-year-old man who developed significant hypertension after initiating salsalate for low-back pain.
- His blood pressure readings increased from an average of 127/84 mm Hg to 150/95 mm Hg after starting salsalate.
- No other confounding factors, such as medication changes or weight gain, were identified.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of salsalate therapy resulted in the patient's blood pressure returning to normotensive levels (119/81 mm Hg).
- This suggests a potential causal relationship between salsalate use and the development of hypertension in this elderly individual.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider the potential for salsalate to induce hypertension, even in patients without a prior history.
- Blood pressure monitoring may be advisable for elderly patients initiating salsalate therapy, especially those with cardiovascular risk factors.