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Cardiovascular risk with cyclooxygenase inhibitors: general problem with substance specific differences?
Irmgard Tegeder1, Gerd Geisslinger
1Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. tegeder@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Insights
Cyclooxygenase inhibitors increase cardiovascular risks like heart attack and stroke, particularly with higher doses or longer use. Early identification of at-risk patients using biomarkers may prevent serious adverse events.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors are widely used for pain and inflammation.
- COX inhibitors are associated with increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension, and heart failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the cardiovascular risks associated with cyclooxygenase inhibitors.
- To explore factors influencing these risks and potential mitigation strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of randomized clinical trials and observational studies.
- Analysis of mechanisms underlying cardiovascular adverse effects.
- Comparison of selective and unselective COX inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Cardiovascular adverse events are linked to dose and duration of COX inhibitor use.
- Risk is higher in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors.
- Substance-specific differences exist among COX inhibitors, potentially due to pharmacokinetics or prostaglandin-independent effects.
Conclusions:
- COX inhibitors pose significant cardiovascular risks, influenced by dose, duration, and patient factors.
- Biomarkers like NT-proBNP and hs-CRP may aid in early risk identification.
- Careful patient selection and monitoring are crucial to mitigate cardiovascular toxicity.
Abstract:
Randomised clinical trials and observational studies have shown an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, hypertension and heart failure during treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors. Adverse cardiovascular effects occurred mainly, but not exclusively, in patients with concomitant risk factors. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors cause complex changes in renal, vascular and cardiac prostanoid profiles thereby increasing vascular resistance and fluid retention. The incidence of cardiovascular adverse events tends to increase with the daily dose and total exposure time. A comparison of individual selective and unselective cyclooxygenase inhibitors suggests substance-specific differences, which may depend on differences in pharmacokinetic parameters or inhibitory potency and may be contributed by prostaglandin-independent effects. Diagnostic markers such as N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) or high-sensitive C-reactive protein might help in the early identification of patients at risk, thus avoiding the occurrence of serious cardiovascular toxicity.
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