Cyclo-Oxygenase-2 Inhibitors Adverse Reactions | Selective COX-2

COX-2 inhibitors
The cross-sensitivity between aspirin and Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs in patients who manifest pseudo-allergic reactions to aspirin affecting the respiratory tract occurs because Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, like aspirin, inhibit COX-1, so that arachidonic acid metabolism is diverted towards the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, with resulting increased production of cysteinyl leukotrienes, which mediate the appearance of symptoms such as allergic rhinitis and asthma. Selective inhibitors of Cyclo-Oxygenase-2 or COX-2 were developed primarily to reduce the incidence of adverse events affecting the gastrointestinal tract symptoms, but the possibility that these agents might be less likely to result in other varieties of adverse reaction dependent on COX-1 inhibition has attracted interest. This review examined the evidence for their greater safety in this respect. (more…)