title: The effects of celecoxib or naproxen on blood pressure in pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selective and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are indicated for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). However, the effect of NSAIDs on blood pressure (BP) in children has not been rigorously examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter, active-controlled, 6-week trial, the safety and efficacy of celecoxib (50 mg twice daily [bid] or 100 mg bid) or naproxen (7.5 mg/kg bid) was evaluated in patients aged 2-17 years with JIA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The least squares (LS) mean difference (celecoxib - naproxen) in change from baseline to week 6/final visit in systolic BP was 1.10 (90% confidence interval, -0.56, 2.76). No significant LS mean differences in diastolic BP relative to baseline were reported. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 48% of patients in each treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both celecoxib and naproxen had no impact on BP, and both treatments had comparable safety profiles. Celecoxib, or naproxen, could be seen as suitable treatment options for pediatric patients with JIA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Falkner
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bhadra Brown
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iorga
authors.affiliation: All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, FL, USA.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Nickeson
authors.affiliation: Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zemel
keywords: NSAIDs; blood pressure; celecoxib; juvenile idiopathic arthritis