Use of Non-Selective Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Relation to Cardiovascular Events. A Systematic Pharmacoepidemiological Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 502-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Kontogiorgis ◽  
Ioannis Valikeserlis ◽  
Dimitra Hadjipavlou-Litina ◽  
Evangelia Nena ◽  
Theodoros C. Constantinidis
2015 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier Luigi Temporelli ◽  
Giovanni Battista Zito ◽  
Roberto Franco Pedretti ◽  
Francesco Iachini Belisarii ◽  
Giuseppe Putortì ◽  
...  

Non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are largely used for treatment of acute and chronic pain, even for long periods of time (months or years). While it is known that their use is frequently associated with gastrointestinal damage, including major bleedings from peptic ulcer, the risk of cardiovascular events related to NSAID has received much less attention. However, there is a large body of evidence showing that NSAIDs (both “traditional”, such as diclofenac or indobufen, and selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, COX-2) are associated with a significant increase of risk of cardiovascular events, both fatal and nonfatal. Consequently, several options have been proposed for the treatment of pain, including the use of analgesic drugs with different mechanisms of action, such as the opiates. Of interest, the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA) published a few years ago a warning (Nota 66) on the careful prescription of NSAIDs in patients with overt heart disease, such as coronary artery disease and heart failure. Aim of this paper is to present the current status of knowledge on the proper use of NSAIDs and other analgesic drugs in the management of acute and chronic pain.


2006 ◽  
Vol 119 (7) ◽  
pp. 552-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelley R. Salpeter ◽  
Peter Gregor ◽  
Thomas M. Ormiston ◽  
Richard Whitlock ◽  
Parminder Raina ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
pp. 37-54
Author(s):  
M. Campanini ◽  
G. Mathieu

BACKGROUND The development of non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (tNSAIDs) and, more recently, of selective inhibitors of the cycloooxygenase-2 isoform (COXIBs), has contributed greatly towards the effective management of patients with arthritis and pain complaints. Although COXIBs have demonstrated an improved gastrointestinal tolerability compared with tNSAIDs, the cardiovascular effects of the two drugs types are much controversial. By blocking prostacyclin formation but leaving platelet-derived thromboxane A2 generation unopposed, the potential gastrointestinal benefit of COXIBs may come at cost of increased thrombotic risk. AIM OF THE STUDY This review aims at analysing the cardiovascular effects of the tNSAIDs and COXIBs. METHOD This review addresses the controversy of effects of COXIBs and tNSAIDs in 4 segments. It begins with a discussion about pathophysiological effects of cyclooxygenase inhibition on cardiovascular system. This is followed by a systematic review and meta-analysis of a control, randomized, double blind study and population-based matched case-control study to compare the risk of serious cardiovascular events with tNSAIDs and COXIBs. Then it answers to key questions with the aim to assist the clinicians for a systematic approach to evaluate the risk-benefit-ratio of NSAIDs in the clinical practice. Finally we analyse the open questions associated with the use of NSAIDs and the cardiovascular events. RESULTS The use of rofecoxib demonstrated an increase in adverse cardiovascular events. This toxic effect is not dose-related. The relationship between celecoxib and cardiovascular risk is less clear. The results of different clinical trials are conflicting: some didn’t demonstrate increase in cardiovascular toxicity but the APC study and recently a metanalysis reported a significant incidence of adverse cardiovascular events. Also valdecoxib and parecoxib appear to have increased risk for cardiovascular toxicity. Eterocoxib is still the object of three ongoing clinical trials. The TARGET study demonstrated for lumiracoxib a low increase in cardiovascular events compared with ibuprofen and naproxen. Also the use of ibuprofen (800 mg t.i.d.), diclofenac (75 mg b.i.d.) and indomethacin is reported to cause adverse cardiovascular events. The use of naprosen shows a better profile regarding cardiovascular toxicity. tNSAIDSs can worse clinical condition of patients affected by chronic cardiac failure and rofecoxib but not celecoxib can disclose clinical cardiac failure. A politherapy with both tNSAIDs and rofecoxib demonstrated an increase of blood arterial pressure and peripheral oedema. CONCLUSIONS This review confirms the findings from randomized trials, meta-analysis and observational studies regarding the risk of cardiovascular events with rofecoxib, valdecoxib e parecoxib, whereas the evidence for other COXIBs is not so clear. Also in the class of tNSAID some drugs (diclofenac and ibuprofen) can have an increased cardiovascular toxicity.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document