Non-aspirin Non-aspirin Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Research Articles

Use of Analgesics and Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Genetic Predisposition, and Bladder Cancer Risk in Spain

We assessed use of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), aspirin, paracetamol (acetaminophen), phenacetin, and metamizol (dipyrone) and risk of bladder cancer and their interaction with polymorphisms in drug-metabolizing genes. We analyzed personal interview data from 958 incident bladder cancer cases and 1,029 hospital controls from a multicenter case-control study in Spain. A drug matrix was developed to estimate cumulative lifetime dose of active ingredients. Polymorphisms in GSTP1, SULT1A1, CYP2E1, CYP2C9, and NAT2 were examined. A significant reduction in bladder cancer risk [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.4; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.2-0.9] was observed for regular users of nonaspirin NSAIDs compared with never users. Regular users of aspirin experienced no reduction in risk (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.7-1.5). Regular users of paracetamol had no overall increased risk of bladder cancer (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.4-1.3), but our data suggested a qualitative interaction with the GSTP1 I105V genotype. Subjects with at least one copy of the 359L or 144C variant alleles in the NSAID-metabolizing gene CYP2C9 had a slightly decreased risk of bladder cancer (OR, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.7-1.0; P = 0.037); however, having at least one copy of the 359L or 144C variant alleles did not significantly modify the protective effect of nonaspirin NSAID use. Regular use of nonaspirin NSAIDs was associated with a reduced risk of bladder cancer, which was not modified by polymorphisms in the NSAID-metabolizing gene CYP2C9. We found no evidence of an overall effect for paracetamol or aspirin use.

Risk of Hospitalization for Myocardial Infarction Among Users of Rofecoxib, Celecoxib, and Other NSAIDs

It remains uncertain if the excess cardiovascular risk of rofecoxib and celecoxib reported in clinical trials is present in routine practice and whether the use of other nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) also carries an increased cardiovascular risk. We performed a population-based case-control study to examine the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) among users of various categories of nonaspirin NSAIDs. Using data from hospital discharge registries in the counties of North Jutland, Viborg, and Aarhus, Denmark, and the Danish Civil Registration System, we identified 10,280 cases of first-time hospitalization for MI and 102,797 sex- and age-matched non-MI population controls. All prescriptions for nonaspirin NSAIDs filled before the date of admission for MI were identified using population-based prescription databases. Relative risk estimates for MI were adjusted for a history of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, alcoholism, liver cirrhosis, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and the use of high-dose aspirin, platelet inhibitors, insulin or oral hypoglycemic drugs, antihypertensive drugs, lipid-lowering drugs, oral anticoagulants, nitrates, penicillamine, gold, oral glucocorticoids, and hormone therapy before the date of admission for MI. Current users of rofecoxib had an elevated risk estimate for hospitalization for MI compared with nonusers of any category of nonaspirin NSAIDs (adjusted relative risk [ARR], 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.47-2.21). Increased risk estimates were also found among current users of celecoxib (ARR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.97-1.62), other cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors (ARR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.09-1.93), naproxen (ARR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.99-2.29), and other conventional nonaspirin NSAIDs (ARR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.52-1.85). The highest ARRs were found among new users of all examined drug categories. Current and new users of all classes of nonaspirin NSAIDs had elevated relative risk estimates for MI. Although the increased risk estimates may partly reflect unmeasured bias, they indicate the need for further examination of the cardiovascular safety of all nonaspirin NSAIDs.

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Risk of Prostate Cancer in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Laboratory and epidemiologic studies suggest that aspirin and nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) reduce the risk of cancer, possibly via inhibition of the cyclooxygenase enzymes. We evaluated the association of aspirin and nonaspirin NSAIDs with subsequent prostate cancer in a prospective study. We also assessed whether use of these drugs influences serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration. Participants were 1,244 male members of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs was collected by questionnaire and interview at multiple study visits. One hundred forty-one prostate cancer cases diagnosed between 1980 and May 2004 were confirmed by medical record review. We used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the rate ratio (RR) of prostate cancer updating drug use over time and taking into account age and year. We used generalized estimating equations to calculate age-adjusted geometric mean PSA concentration by aspirin or nonaspirin NSAIDs use among 933 of the men without prostate cancer, for whom 3,749 PSA measurements in archived sera had been done previously. On 46.0% and 21.5% of the visits, current use of aspirin or nonaspirin NSAIDs (mostly ibuprofen) was reported, respectively. The RRs of prostate cancer comparing ever to never use were 0.76 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.54-1.07] for aspirin, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.54-1.16) for nonaspirin NSAIDs, and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.49-1.02) for either medication. The association for ever use of either aspirin or nonaspirin NSAIDs was suggestively more pronounced in men <70 years (RR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.27-1.03) than in men >/=70 years (RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.50-1.22; P(interaction) = 0.73). The RR for current use of either drug was attenuated relative to ever use. Mean PSA concentration did not differ between users and nonusers of either aspirin or nonaspirin NSAIDs (1.01 versus 0.98 ng/mL, P = 0.56). In this prospective study, men, in particular younger men, who had ever used aspirin or nonaspirin NSAIDs had a modest nonstatistically significant lower risk of prostate cancer. The modest inverse association was unlikely due to detection bias that might have resulted if anti-inflammatory drugs had influenced serum PSA concentration.

Cardiovascular Risks of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors: Where We Stand Now

The authors believe that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, in particular at higher dosages and for longer-term use, should not be a first-line therapy for patients who can tolerate alternative t...

Long-term use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and other chemopreventors and risk of subsequent colorectal neoplasia.

Our objective was to study the relationship between dispensed aspirin, nonaspirin nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (SAIDs), acetaminophen, calcium, psyllium, and multivitamin preparations and the risk for subsequent colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma. The design was a case-control study. The patient population was from a large municipal teaching hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. In logistic regression models, the risk of colorectal adenoma or adenocarcinoma decreased in the first two years of continuous NSAID use in a linear, time-dependent manner. The risk of colorectal neoplasia after two years of continuous NSAID use was reduced significantly (P < 0.01) as compared to nonusers. Risk reduction appeared greater for adenocarcinoma than adenoma. The use of SAIDs, calcium, multivitamins, and psyllium, as prescribed to our patient population during the mean six-year study period, conferred no measurable risk reduction. These results suggest that in prospective chemoprevention trials, a significant risk reduction can be expected after only two years of aspirin use, in doses similar to those recommended for the prevention of cardiovascular disease, or nonaspirin NSAIDs [correction of nonaspirin. NSAIDs], in doses commonly prescribed for the management of musculoskeletal pain. The results also imply that any short-term reduction in the incidence of colorectal adenoma detected in a phase II trial would underestimate the chemopreventive effect of NSAIDs on the risk of adenocarcinoma.

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Gastropathy: Causes and Treatment

Aspirin and non-aspirin non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) almost invariably cause acute gastroduodenal injury and probably account for approximately 12,000 ulcer bleeding episodes and 1200 deaths per annum in the United Kingdom. Clinically significant intestinal toxicity is also recognized but less clearly defined. The main risk factors for NSAID-related peptic ulcer complications are age, past history, use of higher risk individual NSAIDs, drug dose, concurrent use of warfarin or corticosteroids. The underlying reason for NSAID use and Helicobacter pylori status is not clearly associated with increased risk. Whether NSAIDs cause drug-induced non-ulcer dyspepsia is also controversial. Acute injury occurs more readily with aspirin than with non-aspirin NSAIDs, and the spectrum of acute injury is of little value in predicting clinically significant end points in comparison with different NSAIDs. However, acute studies of co-prescribed protective agents are highly predictive of performance in clinical practice. Gastric mucosal integrity is maintained by the interplay of three protective networks: prostaglandin synthesis, nitric oxide synthesis and the activity of the enteric nervous system. Aspirin and NSAIDs act by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis catalysed by two cyclooxygenase enzymes. Most existing NSAIDs are unselective and inhibit the activity of the constitutive cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 enzyme in the stomach as much as the cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 enzyme which is induced at sites of inflammation such as joint disease. There are, however, prospects for selective cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors. Some NSAIDs, particularly aspirin, have additional topical toxicity, which may in part reflect mucosal trapping. Some data favor an effect of NSAIDs in inhibiting mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. The principal physiological mechanisms which are compromised by NSAID use are mucosal blood flow, secretion of mucus and bicarbonate and maintenance of a hydrophobic mucosal surface. Animal data suggest that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) are important for acute damage though the relevance to humans has yet to be established. As well as damaging the mucosa, NSAIDs impair ulcer healing and are associated with reduced epithelial proliferation and evidence of diminished angiogenesis. An interaction between prostaglandins and growth factors, as well as the synthesis of antiproliferative products of arachidonic acid metabolism may be involved. Healing of NSAID ulcers by conventional doses of H2 antagonists is slow and H2 antagonists are poor at preventing gastric ulcer development or recurrence. These problems can be overcome by the use of more potent acid suppression. Misoprostol heals NSAID-associated ulcers, though whether healing is as fast as with non-NSAID ulcers has not been formally established. Misoprostol is effective prophylactic treatment but has a significant incidence of adverse events, particularly diarrhoea. Misoprostol has been reported to prevent ulcer complications, and in endoscopic studies has been superior as prophylaxis to standard dose ranitidine. Results of its efficacy compared to proton-pump inhibitors are awaited. For many patients appropriate management is avoidance of NSAIDs or use of less potent/toxic alternatives such as ibuprofen. Reductions in prescribing arising from a prior authorization scheme show that this can be achieved. For high-risk patients requiring continuing NSAID use co-prescription of omeprazole or misoprostol should be considered.