The arthritic patient with hypertension: selection of an NSAID

Vasodilator prostaglandins produced in the renal medulla have a role in blood pressure regulation, beyond modulation of sodium and water retention. Systemic vasodilation resulting from effects of renomedullary prostaglandins lowers systemic vascular resistance, and administration of NSAIDs elevates blood pressure in hypertensive patients treated with diuretics and/or beta blockers, in patients with myocardial infarction, and in patients taking sympathomimetic agents such as phenylpropanolamine. Aspirin, which appears in the urine as salicylic acid (which has no effect on cyclooxygenase) has not been implicated as a drug which attenuates blood pressure control. Similarly, sulindac, the active sulfide metabolite of which is not filtered, does not inhibit renal synthesis of prostaglandins, though given in doses sufficient to inhibit serum thromboxane and 6-keto PGF 1-alpha. In a double-blind complete crossover study of blood pressure and renal function in hypertensive patients controlled with timolol-hydrochlorothiazide, sulindac lowered blood pressure significantly, whereas naproxen and piroxicam significantly raised blood pressure, in the absence of any effect on GFR, plasma renin, weight, creatinine clearance, or urinary sodium. It is suggested that for arthritic patients with hypertension, the NSAIDs of choice are aspirin and sulindac.