A chelate theory for the mechanism of action of aspirin-like drugs.
Two hundred years after the discovery of the pharmaceutical usefulness of aspirin, it and aspirin-like drugs, a family with an ever-increasing number of members, are an indispensable part of modern life. However, the question as to how these drugs work in the body has remained unsettled. It is postulated here that this group of drugs may exert their therapeutic (and adverse) effects by chelating various physiologically important metallic cations in the body. The chelate theory is supported by the vast majority, if not all, of the observations on these drugs made in the past.
Wang
X
X
Department of Pathology, Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA. xwang@mail.med.cornell.edu
D000698:Analgesia; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008954:Models, Biological; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002614:Chelating Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011453:Prostaglandins; D001241:Aspirin; D002118:Calcium