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 Table of Contents  
EDITORIAL
Year : 2017  |  Volume : 4  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 1-2

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Is there a link between cardiovascular and renal adverse effects?


1 Department of Pharmacy Practice, Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States of America
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, United States of America

Date of Web Publication1-Mar-2017

Correspondence Address:
Sam Harirforoosh
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gatton College of Pharmacy, East Tennessee State University, Box 70594, Johnson City, TN 37614-1708
United States of America
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Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/jina.jina_2_17

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How to cite this article:
Sevinsky RE, Stewart DW, Harirforoosh S. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Is there a link between cardiovascular and renal adverse effects?. J Integr Nephrol Androl 2017;4:1-2

How to cite this URL:
Sevinsky RE, Stewart DW, Harirforoosh S. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Is there a link between cardiovascular and renal adverse effects?. J Integr Nephrol Androl [serial online] 2017 [cited 2024 Mar 19];4:1-2. Available from: http://www.journal-ina.com/text.asp?2017/4/1/1/201275

Both the clinical benefits and the adverse effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are mediated by the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) 1 and 2.[1] COX-1 is expressed constitutively in tissues, whereas COX-2 is produced under periods of stress and inflammation. The physiologic function of COX-1 and COX-2 is to convert arachidonic acid to prostaglandins, thromboxane A2 (TXA2), and prostacyclins. These products influence multiple systems such as cardiac, immune, gastrointestinal (GI), renal, vascular, and pulmonary systems.[1],[2] COX enzymes are present in various locations throughout the body including the blood vessels where they produce vasodilatory prostacyclins and TXA2, which causes platelet aggregation.[3] They are also present in the kidney where they help maintain renal blood flow and promote natriuresis, diuresis, and vasodilation through the production of prostaglandins. Inhibition of COX with the use of NSAIDs produces the well-known pain-relieving effects through decreased production of prostaglandins, which under physiologic conditions cause hyperalgesia.[1],[4] Although NSAIDs remain guideline recommended for arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, the use of NSAIDs does not come without risk of side effects. Well-known adverse effects of NSAIDs include GI bleeding, as well as cardiovascular and renal function changes.[2],[4]

Renal adverse effects of NSAIDs have been widely investigated and include acute kidney injury, chronic kidney injury, interstitial nephritis, sodium retention, and hyperkalemia.[2],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9] There are a variety of proposed mechanisms for these adverse effects, which are likely multifactorial in nature. The primary recognized mechanism is a reduction in prostaglandin production with the use of NSAIDs.[4] Because prostaglandin production in the kidney produces vasodilatory effects, the resultant vasoconstriction and subsequent reduction in renal blood flow causes insult to the kidney. Further, inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis in the kidney increases reabsorption of sodium and water in the collecting tubule. Recent research has also identified a potential link between acute tubular injury and activation of the complement system by ketoprofen.[10]

While renal adverse effects may be more frequently cited by clinicians, cardiovascular adverse effects are also well established. The cardiovascular adverse effects attributed to NSAIDs include myocardial infarction, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation.[11],[12],[13] In addition, a recent meta-analysis reported NSAID users being 17% more likely to develop heart failure compared to nonusers.[4] Like the renal effects, the link between NSAID use and cardiovascular adverse effects is likely multifactorial. The historical cardiovascular risk associated with COX-2-specific inhibitors, as opposed to nonselective NSAIDs, was thought to be due to the preserved platelet aggregating function of TXA2.[14] Recently, Nissen et al. challenged this by demonstrating, contrary to historical belief, the noninferiority of celecoxib, as a COX-2-selective inhibitor (COXIB), compared to ibuprofen and naproxen for cardiovascular safety.[15] In addition, a meta-analysis found that rofecoxib was the only COXIB that showed an increase in cardiovascular events compared to other COXIBs and nonselective NSAIDs.[16] Another proposed mechanism for increased cardiovascular risk is generation of reactive oxygen species in cardiac cells by NSAIDs.[17] Production of reactive oxygen species with the use of NSAIDs leads to upregulation of specific signaling pathways, one of these being apoptosis. This programmed cell death could ultimately lead to cardiovascular damage and disease. In addition, inhibition of prostaglandins leads to vasoconstriction of the peripheral and renal vasculature with resultant reabsorption of sodium and water in the kidney, which may contribute to elevations in blood pressure and fluid retention.[4]

While renal and cardiovascular adverse effects are often considered separately, a potential for a relationship may exist between the two when considering NSAID administration. These cardiorenal effects could be attributable to a reduction in prostaglandin production in the kidney and vasculature leading to a decrease in renal perfusion and an increase in systemic vascular resistance and retention of sodium and water.[12],[14] In a previous study, reduced sodium excretion was reported with both the use of COXIBs and nonselective NSAIDs in rats.[18] All of these factors could contribute to hypertension, myocardial infarction, and overall cardiovascular risk associated with NSAID use.[12],[14],[18] More recently, a novel explanation of the link between renal and cardiovascular side effects has been reported by Ahmetaj-Shala et al.[3] The study investigated wild-type and COX-2−/− mouse tissue and discovered a gene predominantly present in the renal medulla associated with the regulation of nitric oxide synthase inhibitors and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Mice that were COX-2−/− exhibited decreased endothelial nitric oxide responses and increased plasma ADMA, which confers a reduction in the cardioprotective effects of nitric oxide synthase. If the relationship between adverse cardiovascular and renal effects is directly related, the use of ADMA as a biomarker for cardiovascular risk and a link to renal COX-2 inhibition could be a useful clinical tool. Further research focused on this relationship is warranted given the high prevalence of both cardiovascular disease and NSAID use in most developed countries.

 
  References Top

1.
Antman EM, Bennett JS, Daugherty A, Furberg C, Roberts H, Taubert KA; American Heart Association. Use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: An update for clinicians: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 2007;115:1634-42.  Back to cited text no. 1
    
2.
Harirforoosh S, Asghar W, Jamali F. Adverse effects of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs: An update of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal complications. J Pharm Pharm Sci 2013;16:821-47.  Back to cited text no. 2
    
3.
Ahmetaj-Shala B, Kirkby NS, Knowles R, Al'Yamani M, Mazi S, Wang Z, et al. Evidence that links loss of cyclooxygenase-2 with increased asymmetric dimethylarginine: Novel explanation of cardiovascular side effects associated with anti-inflammatory drugs. Circulation 2015;131:633-42.  Back to cited text no. 3
    
4.
Ungprasert P, Srivali N, Thongprayoon C. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of incident heart failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Clin Cardiol 2016;39:111-8.  Back to cited text no. 4
    
5.
Jung JH, Kang KP, Kim W, Park SK, Lee S. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug induced acute granulomatous interstitial nephritis. BMC Res Notes 2015;8:793.  Back to cited text no. 5
    
6.
Chang YK, Liu JS, Hsu YH, Tarng DC, Hsu CC. Increased risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring chronic dialysis is associated with use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Nationwide case-crossover study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2015;94:e1362.  Back to cited text no. 6
    
7.
Kent AL, Koina ME, Gubhaju L, Cullen-McEwen LA, Bertram JF, Lynnhtun J, et al. Indomethacin administered early in the postnatal period results in reduced glomerular number in the adult rat. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2014;307:F1105-10.  Back to cited text no. 7
    
8.
Wei L, MacDonald TM, Jennings C, Sheng X, Flynn RW, Murphy MJ. Estimated GFR reporting is associated with decreased nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug prescribing and increased renal function. Kidney Int 2013;84:174-8.  Back to cited text no. 8
    
9.
Kikuchi H, Aoyagi M, Nagahama K, Yajima Y, Yamamura C, Arai Y, et al. Nephrotic-range proteinuria and interstitial nephritis associated with the use of a topical loxoprofen patch. Intern Med 2014;53:1131-5.  Back to cited text no. 9
    
10.
Palviainen MJ, Junnikkala S, Raekallio M, Meri S, Vainio O. Activation of complement system in kidney after ketoprofen-induced kidney injury in sheep. Acta Vet Scand 2015;57:15.  Back to cited text no. 10
    
11.
Krijthe BP, Heeringa J, Hofman A, Franco OH, Stricker BH. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and the risk of atrial fibrillation: A population-based follow-up study. BMJ Open 2014;4:e004059.  Back to cited text no. 11
    
12.
Coxib and Traditional NSAID Trialists' (CNT) Collaboration, Bhala N, Emberson J, Merhi A, Abramson S, Arber N, et al. Vascular and upper gastrointestinal effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Meta-analyses of individual participant data from randomised trials. Lancet 2013;382:769-79.  Back to cited text no. 12
    
13.
Varas-Lorenzo C, Riera-Guardia N, Calingaert B, Castellsague J, Salvo F, Nicotra F, et al. Myocardial infarction and individual nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs meta-analysis of observational studies. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2013;22:559-70.  Back to cited text no. 13
    
14.
Curiel RV, Katz JD. Mitigating the cardiovascular and renal effects of NSAIDs. Pain Med 2013;14 Suppl 1:S23-8.  Back to cited text no. 14
    
15.
Nissen SE, Yeomans ND, Solomon DH, Lüscher TF, Libby P, Husni ME, et al. Cardiovascular safety of celecoxib, naproxen, or ibuprofen for arthritis. N Engl J Med 2016;375:2519-29.  Back to cited text no. 15
    
16.
Gunter BR, Butler KA, Wallace RL, Smith SM, Harirforoosh S. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced cardiovascular adverse events: A meta-analysis. J Clin Pharm Ther 2017;42:27-38.  Back to cited text no. 16
    
17.
Ghosh R, Alajbegovic A, Gomes AV. NSAIDs and cardiovascular diseases: Role of reactive oxygen species. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2015;2015:536962.  Back to cited text no. 17
    
18.
Harirforoosh S, Jamali F. Effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with varying extent of COX-2-COX-1 selectivity on urinary sodium and potassium excretion in the rat. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2005;83:85-90.  Back to cited text no. 18
    



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