title: NSAIDs: gastroprotection or selective COX-2 inhibitor?
abstract: Conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective adjuvant analgesics commonly encountered in palliative care. However, these drugs are associated with adverse effects that are primarily due to gastrointestinal toxicity, with resultant serious complications such as gastroduodenal perforations, ulcers and bleeds. This toxicity has been attributed to inhibition of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1). Factors known to increase this risk of toxicity include age above 65 years, classification of NSAID in terms of COX-1/COX-2 selectivity, previous history of complications and coadministration of aspirin, anticoagulants and corticosteroids. Selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were developed in an attempt to reduce this association; trials to date confirm that these drugs do indeed have reduced incidence of gastroduodenal toxicity. Prior to the introduction of the COX-2 selective inhibitors, patients at high risk were often coprescribed a gastroprotective agent (such as misoprostol or a proton pump inhibitor) with a conventional NSAID. This review discusses the merits of both options and devises a treatment strategy for the safe and cost-effective use of these drugs in the palliative care population.
authors.affiliation: Marie Curie Centre, Woolton, Liverpool, UK. andrew.dickman@sthkhealth.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dickman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellershaw
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D000068579:Celecoxib; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016527:Drug Costs; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000191:economics; D007783:Lactones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000191:economics; D011720:Pyrazoles; D012307:Risk Factors; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013450:Sulfones
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007527:Isoenzymes; D007783:Lactones; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011720:Pyrazoles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496511:PTGS1 protein, human; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D000068579:Celecoxib