QDIS Blog

The Journal of American Medical Assoc (JAMA) has released an article on renal and arrhythemia events related to Cox-2 inhibitors.

JAMA — Abstract: Adverse Effects of Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors on Renal and Arrhythmia Events: Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials, September 12, 2006, Zhang et al. 0 (2006): 296.13.jrv60015:

The drugs studies were rofecoxib, celecoxib, valdecoxib + parecoxib, etoricoxib, and lumiracoxib.
It should be pointed out that this is a meta analysis.

Here’s there conclusion.

In this comprehensive analysis of 114 randomized trials with 116 094 participants, rofecoxib was associated with increased renal and arrhythmia risks. A COX-2 inhibitor class effect was not evident. Future safety monitoring is warranted and may benefit from an active and continuous cumulative surveillance system.

Here is a link to the pdf of the full article.

Adverse Effects of Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors on Renal and Arrhythmia Events: Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials — Zhang et al., 10.1001/jama.296.13.jrv60015 — JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association

It seems the take home lesson is that Vioxx (rofecoxib) definitely has problems with both renal events and arrhythmia. Celebrex (celecoxib) did not show any increase in the risk of cardiovascular events. For the other drugs the results were unclear.

Other Resources

• Hotline: March, 2005 - The Safety of COX-2 Inhibitors
• Citebase - Practical approaches to minimizing gastrointestinal and cardiovascular safety concerns with COX-2 inhibitors and NSAIDs
• COX-2 Inhibitors – Cardiovascular and Gastrointestinal Safety (pdf)

Technorati Tags: Celebrex, COX-2 inhibitors, celecoxib, rofecoxib, Vioxx

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A recent press release from St. Jude Children’s hospital says they have found an early biochemical step that bacteria use to make their membranes.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital :: Solution to Bacterial Mystery Promises New Drugs:

This may lead to new drugs since this particular biochemical step does not occur in humans. They have discovered an enzyme that is vital to building the bacteria’s membranes and it is early in the biochemical sequence. This means it should be very effective and should not cause side effects in humans once drugs are identified to inhibit this enzyme.

Technorati Tags: antibiotics

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