Prophylactic effect of highly selective COX-2 inhibition in acute monosodium urate crystal induced inflammation in the rat subcutaneous air pouch.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the ability of rofecoxib prophylaxis to blunt the effect of monosodium urate (MSU) crystal inflammation induced in the rat subcutaneous air pouch.


METHODS
Eight rats were used in each of 4 groups. On day one, air was injected subcutaneously to create the pouches and gavage feedings were started with placebo or 2 different doses of rofecoxib. Six days later MSU crystals or saline were injected into the pouches. Twenty-four hours later, rats were examined, sacrificed, and pouch fluid studied.


RESULTS
Rofecoxib 15 or 30 mg/kg given for 6 days before MSU crystal injection into rat air pouches significantly suppressed the inflammation following injection of 10 mg crystals (p = 0.001) and tended to suppress the milder inflammation induced by 5 mg MSU. Greater effects on phagocytosis were seen with 30 mg/kg rofecoxib. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in pouch fluid measured by ELISA were not suppressed by the rofecoxib.


CONCLUSIONS
Prophylactic use of this cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) selective inhibitor in this pilot study suppressed acute MSU crystal induced inflammation. Effects on cytokines need further investigation. COX-2 inhibitors deserve consideration for prophylactic use in interim gout.
Nalbant
Selim
S
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and the Arthritis Center, VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4283, USA.
Chen
Lan X
LX
Sieck
Marie S
MS
Clayburne
Gilda
G
Schumacher
H Ralph
HR
D000818:Animals; D015210:Arthritis, Gouty / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000517:prevention & control; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014527:Uric Acid
D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D014527:Uric Acid