Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0232487 (abdominal discomfort)
 1,724 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most frequently prescribed drugs, despite their well-established association with gastroduodenal injury. Recent discovery of the cyclooxygenase (COX) isoenzymes COX-1 and COX-2 has improved our knowledge of the action of NSAIDs. COX-1 is continuously expressed in almost all tissues, where it converts arachidonate to the prostaglandins (PGs) important in homeostatic function; COX-2 is present in immune cells, blood vessel endothelial cells, and synovial fibroblasts. Classic NSAIDs inhibit both COX isoenzymes by occupying the cyclooxygenase-active site, preventing access by arachidonic acid. In theory, a drug such as celecoxib that selectively inhibited COX-2 might block inflammation, pain, and fever while reducing the side effects (gastric erosions and ulcers) associated with inhibition of COX-1. In animal models of inflammation and pain, celecoxib has shown marked suppression of PG production and inflammation compared with indomethacin, the standard COX-1/COX-2 inhibitor. In clinical trials, celecoxib dosed at 100, 200, and 400 mg BID was found to significantly reduce the signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis. In one RA study, celecoxib was found to be as clinically effective as diclofenac after 24 weeks of treatment; at the end of the study, gastroduodenal ulcers occurred significantly more frequently in the diclofenac group (15%) than in the celecoxib group (4%). In a 1-week endoscopy study comparing celecoxib with naproxen and placebo, the incidence of gastric erosions/ulcers was significantly greater in the naproxen group than in the celecoxib or placebo group. The most common adverse effects of celecoxib in clinical studies were headache, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, and dizziness. Celecoxib has shown significant equivalent anti-inflammatory and analgesic efficacy and has produced less endoscopically apparent gastrointestinal (GI) ulceration or erosion than have 3 classic NSAIDs. Whether it will have long-term GI adverse effects or interact with other medications to cause serious adverse responses (eg, increased GI bleeding or rash in conjunction with other sulfonamide-like drugs) is unknown and remains to be established.
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PMID:Celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. 1050 45

Gastrointestinal (GI) Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) from the NSAIDs are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in arthritic patients taking these drugs. The recent much heralded development of COX-2 selective drugs (celecoxib, rofecoxib), the objective of which has been to spare inhibition of the production of COX-1 derived mucosal protective prostaglandins, may have represented an advance in reducing the risk of serious ADRs--ulcers and bleeding--but does not appear to have reduced the incidence of symptomatic side-effects (nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain/heartburn, abdominal discomfort) which are a major reason for withdrawal from NSAID therapy, especially in the long term. The rationale of COX-2 selectivity from these newer drugs is controversial since there may be pharmacokinetic differences from established carboxylate-NSAIDs that accounts for their apparent lower ulcerogenicity. Moreover, concerns have been recently expressed that as COX-2 is important in ulcer healing, control of prostacyclin production and renal function that they may have adverse reactions from these effects. Indeed, recent reports of enhanced risk of congestive heart failure with rofecoxib are of importance and may relate to impaired prostacyclin production. Moreover, there are other therapeutic strategies that have yielded equally low ulcerogenic NSAIDs (e.g. the prodrug, nabumetone; the established COX-2 inhibitory drug, nimesulide) and even the well-established NSAIDs ibuprofen and diclofenac have relatively low upper GI ulcerogenicity and have been used as benchmark standards in comparative trials of the newer "Oxib" drugs (celecoxib, rofecoxib). Much research interest has centred on the nitric oxide-donating NSAIDs (NO-NSAIDs). The rationale for donating NSAIDs being to counteract the vasoconstriction effects of NSAIDs but this has yet to be fully evaluated. It is not certain that this "antidote" approach will be acceptable as there may also be systemic effects of the nitrobutoxyl--or other NO-donors that may have toxicological consequences. Another strategy is the development of mixed COX-5 lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors--the progenitors of which were benoxaprofen and BW-755C. The rationale of reducing the potential for lipoxygenase mediated actions in the stomach (e.g. vasoconstriction, leucocyte accumulation). Clearly, the need to develop newer NSAIDs with lower risks of ulcers and bleeding as well as symptomatic ADRs is still representing a major challenge.
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PMID:The ever-emerging anti-inflammatories. Have there been any real advances? 1159 13

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most commonly prescribed group of drugs. Patients receiving NSAIDs often experience abdominal discomfort, and some of them develop serious gastrointestinal complications, such as ulceration, bleeding, perforation, or obstruction. Gastrointestinal side effects of NSAIDs are mostly attributed to cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition resulting in reduction of prostaglandin in gastric mucosa. Topical irritant effects are also contributed to their systemic effect of prostaglandin inhibition. Anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs are mediated by COX-2 inhibition, while COX-1 inhibition is responsible for gastric prostaglandin inhibition. Management of gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDs is costly. In order to prevent or treat the gastrointestinal complications of NSAIDs, anti-ulcer drugs can be used concomitantly. Other alternative is the application or substitution of COX-2 selective inhibitors, which spare gastric mucosal prostaglandin synthesis and do not damage the gastric mucosa. Application of COX-2 selective inhibitors as a first line treatment for arthritic disorders may not be cost-effective, if patients do not have any risk factors including advanced age, history of complicating peptic ulcer, concomitant anticoagulant and corticosteroid medication. Patients with risk factors or those developing gastrointestinal complications during the course of NSAID treatment can be treated with COX-2 selective inhibitors if necessary.
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PMID:Gastrointestinal effects of selective and non-selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. 1589 75