title: Non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cardiovascular events: is aldosterone the silent partner in crime?
abstract: Non-selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have long been known to cause gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. More recently, adverse cardiovascular effects have been associated with the selective COX-2 inhibitors. However, current studies that show an increased cardiovascular risk with non-selective NSAIDs raise the question of the exclusive contribution of COX-2 to this type of toxicity. Aldosterone, a key cardiovascular hormone, can induce deleterious effects, such as myocardial fibrosis and vascular stiffening. Non-selective NSAIDs inhibit the metabolism of aldosterone in vitro by human renal tissue, predicating an increased plasma aldosterone concentration in vivo. The question remains whether inhibition of aldosterone metabolism by non-selective NSAIDs is a casual or causal factor in NSAID-induced cardiovascular toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Adelaide, Australia. kathie.knights@flinders.edu.au
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Knights
authors.forename: Arduino A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mangoni
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Miners
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D000450:Aldosterone