Arthritis drug celecoxib can adversely affect heart rhythm

COX-2 inhibitors like Celecoxib have come under scrutiny lately due to adverse cardiovascular side-effects stemming from COX-2 reduction. In both fruit fly and rat models, researchers reveal another adverse effect of Celecoxib; this drug can induce arrhythmia. More interestingly, this effect is independent of the COX-2 enzyme.

Celecoxib is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute pain, painful menstruation and menstrual symptoms, and to reduce numbers of colon and rectum polyps in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. It is marketed by Pfizer under the brand name Celebrex. In some countries, it is branded Celebra. Celecoxib is available by prescription in capsule form.

Satpal Singh and colleagues (Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, State University of New York at Buffalo) tested various Celecoxib doses on the heart rate of Drosophila, a good model for human cardiac pharmacology. To their surprise, administering 3 ƒÝm Celecoxib (not much higher than the plasma levels in humans taking the drug) reduced heart rate and increased beating irregularities, while 30 ƒÝm was enough to stop the heart within a minute.

The surprise arises from the fact that Drosophila do not have COX-2 enzymes. Rather, Celecoxib could directly inhibit the potassium channels that help generate the electric current that drives heartbeat.

The researchers could achieve similar heart-stopping results in rat cardiac cells, whereas aspirin, another potent COX-2 inhibitor, had no effect, confirming that another mechanism is at work. The drug also inhibited rat and human potassium channels expressed in a human cell line.

Singh and colleagues point out that since these arrhythmia effects bypass COX-2, it is unclear if other COX-2 inhibitors would yield similar results. They also stress it is too early to speculate on human effects, although their results suggest Drosophila are a valuable tool to investigate other COX-2 drugs.


(Editor compiled and published Arthritis drug celecoxib can adversely affect heart rhythm at HealthNewsTrack on January 14, 2008 sourced from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-01/asfb-sif011408.php)

Arthritis - recent articles and current news stories:

- 4 times cancer rate in children with juvenile arthritis
- 63% women suffer from some knee pain
- Asthma can be treated with Tocilizumab rheumatoid arthritis drug
- Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis medications lowers diabetes risk
- Adults with arthritis suffer with poorer health and quality of life

Most related articles:

- Arthritis drug celecoxib can adversely affect heart rhythm
- Celebrex may prevent some non melanoma skin cancers - 7.3
- Sanofi's Multaq approved to treat heart rhythm disorder, US - 7.1
- Gene linked to Celebrex treatment for colon tumor prevention - 6.5
- Ablation heart procedure reduces risk of Alzheimer and stroke - 5.8

More related articles:

- Arthritis, Drug, Celecoxib, Heart rhythm, Cardiovascular, Arrhythmia, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Pain, Pharmacology
- Glucosamine no better than placebo in reducing hip pain - 13.1
- Celebrex may prevent some non melanoma skin cancers - 12.9
- Pain is not a symptom of arthritis, pain causes arthritis - 12.6
- Rheumatoid arthritis drug masitinib found effective - 12.2

Arthritis related articles:

- Arthritis a most common cause of disability in Americans - 4
- Rheumatoid arthritis drug masitinib found effective - 3.6
- Rheumatoid arthritis rising among women in US - 3.5
- Adults with arthritis suffer with poorer health and quality of life - 3.4
- Rheumatoid arthritis risk higher in people with high birth weight - 3.4

Arthritis article/news source:

Read more health articles from American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and health articles from USA.

Arthritis - search related terms:

Arrhythmia, Arthritis, Cardiovascular, Celecoxib, Drug, Heart rhythm, Osteoarthritis, Pain, Pharmacology, Rheumatoid arthritis,
Arthritis books,

List health news, Health organizations, Health news world, Glossary, Best health articles, Featured     Go to top

The information provided on Health Newstrack is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. We comply with the HONcode principles for trustworthy health information, and Health News Track is hon code accredited, verify here.
About us, Site map Privacy policy, Disclaimer
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 HealthNewsTrack.com
1.77