Title:Cardiovascular Adverse Effects of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Author(s): Camille Roubille, Johanne Martel-Pelletier, Jean-Marc Davy, Boulos Haraoui and Jean-Pierre Pelletier
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cardiovascular system, cardiovascular diseases, anti-inflammatory agents, NSAIDs, cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors,
glucocorticoids
Abstract: Anti-inflammatory drugs consist of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including non-selective
nsNSAIDs, aspirin, and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-selective inhibitors also referred to as coxibs, and glucocorticoids
(GCs). They are worldwide prescribed drugs for many musculoskeletal conditions, such as osteoarthritis and
inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Anti-inflammatory drugs can exert deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system,
excluding aspirin. NSAIDs, especially coxibs, have been demonstrated to increase cardiovascular risk and have generated
many concerns leading to the reassessment of their benefit/risk ratio. GCs may also induce cardiovascular events, but
evidence seems to be less clear. Before prescribing these drugs, an assessment of cardiovascular risk may be judicious. In
this review, anti-inflammatory drugs, coxibs, nsNSAIDs and GCs, and the risk of cardiovascular events will be discussed.
