title: Low dose rofecoxib, inflammation and prostacyclin synthesis in acute coronary syndromes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the influence of low dose rofecoxib on inflammatory mediators and prostacyclin synthesis in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in a short-term follow up.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty nine patients with ACS without ST elevation were randomized to simvastatin alone or together with low dose rofecoxib. Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), 6-keto-PGF-1alpha--stable product of prostacyclin (PGT2) and hs-C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assessed on enrollment and after 30-day follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combination of rofecoxib with statin significantly decreased levels of hs-CRP after one month therapy (5.21 mg/l +/- 4.12 vs 2.11 mg/l +/- 2.1; p=0.0092). This effect was not evident in a group on statin alone (3.95 mg/l +/- 3.33 vs 2.48 mg/l +/- 2.39; p=0.31). 6-keto-PGF-1alpha increased not significantly in both groups. IL-6 concentration has not changed during follow up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low dose of selective COX-2 inhibitor exerts significant anti-inflammatory effect and does not diminish PG12 synthesis in study group of patients with ACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Białystok, Poland. kuklinska@poczta.onet.pl
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kuklińska
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Musiał
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kamiński
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kralisz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Modrzejewski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sobkowicz
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dobrzycki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stec
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wojtkowska
mesh_terms: D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood; D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007783:Lactones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019821:Simvastatin; D011464:Epoprostenol