Elderly Woman With No Autoimmune Disease With Aseptic Meningitis Caused by Celecoxib

Masaki Takigawa1, Hiroyuki Tanaka2, Takashi Kobayashi3

  • 1Department of Clinical Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toho University, Chiba, JPN.

Cureus
|April 1, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced aseptic meningitis (NIAM) can occur without autoimmune disease. This case highlights celecoxib as a potential NSAID trigger for NIAM in older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced aseptic meningitis (NIAM) is a known adverse effect, frequently associated with autoimmune diseases.
  • Ibuprofen is the most commonly reported NSAID implicated in NIAM cases.

Observation:

  • A case of NIAM following oral celecoxib administration in a 73-year-old patient without any autoimmune disease is presented.
  • The patient developed a headache shortly after taking celecoxib, which resolved upon discontinuation.
  • While lumbar puncture was not performed, infectious meningitis was ruled out, leaving NIAM as a strong possibility.

Findings:

  • This report details a rare instance of celecoxib-induced NIAM in an elderly patient lacking autoimmune disease.
  • A literature review revealed a predominance of NIAM cases in younger patients with autoimmune conditions.
  • Analysis of the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database indicated an average NIAM onset of approximately three days, with potential for delayed onset with COX-2 selective agents.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known clinical spectrum of NIAM, suggesting it can occur in non-autoimmune elderly individuals.
  • The findings underscore the importance of considering NIAM in the differential diagnosis of meningitis, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
  • Further investigation into the specific mechanisms and risk factors for NIAM with selective COX-2 inhibitors like celecoxib is warranted.