Upper gastrointestinal tolerability of celecoxib, a COX-2 specific inhibitor, compared to naproxen and placebo

OBJECTIVE: To determine the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tolerability of celecoxib, naproxen, and placebo in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: An analysis of 5, 12-week, randomized, double blind, parallel group, placebo controlled clinical trials was conducted. In these trials, patients were randomized to: naproxen 500 mg bid (n = 1,099), placebo (n = 1,136), celecoxib 50 mg bid (n = 690) (subtherapeutic dose), celecoxib 100 mg (n = 1,131) or 200 mg bid (n = 1,125) (therapeutic dose), or celecoxib 400 mg bid (n = 434) (supratherapeutic dosage). The incidence and time until moderate to severe abdominal pain, dyspepsia, nausea, and any of the aforementioned 3 upper GI symptoms (composite endpoint) were determined using time-to-event analysis. RESULTS: The cumulative incidences of moderate to severe abdominal pain, dyspepsia, or nausea (composite endpoint) were: naproxen 500 mg (12.0%; 95% CI 9.9%-14.0%), celecoxib 50 mg bid (7.1%; 95% CI 5.0%-9.2%), celecoxib 100 mg bid (7.8%; 95% CI 6.0%-9.5%), celecoxib 200 mg bid (8.1%; 95% CI 6.4%-9.9%), celecoxib 400 mg bid (6.0%; 95% CI 3.6%-8.4%), and placebo (8.5%; 95% CI 6.5%-10.8%). After controlling for independent predictors of the composite endpoint, relative risks (RR) for the various treatments relative to naproxen 500 mg bid were: celecoxib 50 mg (RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.37-0.77; p < 0.001), celecoxib 100 mg (RR 0.60; 95% CI 0.45-0.80; p < 0.001), celecoxib 200 mg bid (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.47-0.83; p = 0.001), celecoxib 400 mg bid (RR 0.56; 95% CI 0.35-0.89; p = 0.015), and placebo (RR 0.63; 95% CI 0.47-0.85; p = 0.002). After controlling for independent predictors of the composite endpoint, celecoxib treatment group patients did not differ from placebo patients when reporting the composite endpoint, with p values ranging from 0.40 to 0.96. CONCLUSION: The upper GI tolerability of celecoxib is superior to naproxen. A dose-response relationship between celecoxib and upper GI symptoms was not apparent.     

Reduced incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers with celecoxib, a novel cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, compared to naproxen in patients with arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) block prostaglandin production by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX); they are believed to cause gastroduodenal damage by inhibiting the COX-1 isoform and to have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the COX-2 isoform. As compared to conventional NSAIDs, celecoxib, a COX-2 specific inhibitor, has been shown in previous single posttreatment endoscopy studies to be associated with lower gastroduodenal ulcer rates. In response to concerns that such studies may under-represent ulceration rates, the present serial endoscopy study was designed to compare cumulative gastroduodenal ulcer rates associated with the use of celecoxib to those of naproxen, a conventional NSAID. METHODS: In this double-blind, parallel-group, multicenter study, 537 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were randomized to treatment with celecoxib 200 mg b.i.d. (n = 270) or naproxen 500 mg b.i.d. (n = 267) for 12 wk. Gastroduodenal damage was determined from esophagogastroduodenoscopy after 4, 8, and 12 wk of therapy. Arthritis efficacy was evaluated with Patient's and Physician's Global Assessments. RESULTS: Gastroduodenal ulcer rates after celecoxib and naproxen treatment were 4% versus 19% in the 0-4 wk interval (p < 0.001), 2% versus 14% in the 4-8 wk interval (p < 0.001), and 2% versus 10% in the 8-12 wk interval (p < 0.001), respectively. After 12 wk of treatment, the cumulative incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers was 9% with celecoxib and 41% with naproxen. In the celecoxib group, gastroduodenal ulcers were significantly associated with Helicobacter pylori status (p < 0.05), concurrent aspirin usage (p = 0.001), and a history of ulcer (p = 0.010), but not with disease type (OA/RA), age, gender, other relevant medical histories, or concurrent corticosteroid or disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs usage (p > 0.05). Celecoxib produced a significantly lower incidence rate of both gastric (p < 0.001) and duodenal (p < 0.030) ulcers. The two agents produced similar improvements in Patient's and Physician's Global Assessments of arthritis efficacy. The incidence of adverse events and withdrawal rates did not differ significantly between treatments. CONCLUSIONS: As compared to naproxen (500 mg b.i.d.), use of celecoxib (200 mg b.i.d.), a COX-2 specific agent, at the recommended RA dose and twice the most frequently prescribed OA dose, was associated with lower rates of gastric, duodenal, and gastroduodenal ulcers but had comparable efficacy, in patients with OA and RA.     

选择性环氧合酶-2抑制剂塞莱希布对大鼠肝纤维化的作用

目的:探讨选择性COX-2抑制剂塞莱昔布对CCl4诱导的大鼠肝纤维化的作用.方法:5-6周龄的♂SD大鼠50只,随机分为6组.A组(肝纤维化模型组):10只,50%CCl4橄榄油溶液1mL/kg,每周2次皮下注射,同时给予生理盐水灌胃;B组(早期治疗组):10只,造模同时给予塞莱昔布15mg/kg溶于生理盐水中灌胃,每天1次;C组(中期治疗组):10只,造模同时给予生理盐水灌胃,第3周起改为塞莱昔布灌胃;D组(晚期治疗组):10只,造模同时给予生理盐水灌胃,第5周起改为塞莱昔布灌胃;E组:5只,给予相同体积的橄榄油皮下注射,同时给予相同剂量的塞莱昔布灌胃;F组:5只,给予相同体积的橄榄油皮下注射和生理盐水中灌胃.上述处置共8wk.实验结束后腹主动脉取血,取肝组织,检测血清谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、透明质酸(HA)、层粘连蛋白(LN)水平;病理组织学HE染色及Masson染色观察肝纤维化严重程度并评分,免疫组织化学方法检测肝组织Ⅰ胶原、α-SMA、COX-1、COX-2的表达.结果:A组与F组相比,可见显著的肝纤维化改变(P<0.01);与A组相比,B组病理染色可见肝纤维化程度明显减轻(P<0.01),血清ALT、...     

The gastrointestinal safety of the COX-2 selective inhibitor etoricoxib assessed by both endoscopy and analysis of upper gastrointestinal events

OBJECTIVES: Etoricoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor that in clinical studies has improved the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and reduced the potential for GI injury. The incidence of endoscopically detected ulcers and of clinically important upper GI events (perforations, ulcers, and bleeding episodes) was compared in patients taking etoricoxib or nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). METHODS: Upper GI endoscopy was performed at intervals over 12 wk in 680 patients taking etoricoxib 120 mg once daily, ibuprofen 800 mg three times daily, or placebo in a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind study. Survival analysis was used to analyze time-to-event data for the incidence of gastric or duodenal ulcers (> or =3 mm and > or =5 mm), and the log rank test was used to compare the cumulative incidence between treatment groups. A combined analysis of upper GI events in all 10 Phase II/III clinical trials of etoricoxib (60, 90, or 120 mg) versus nonselective NSAIDs (naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac) for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic low back pain was conducted. Investigators reported potential events for adjudication by an external, blinded committee, using prespecified criteria to confirm events. All events that occurred during active treatment periods (maximum 792 days) or within 14 days of stopping treatment were included in the analysis. Time to first event was evaluated using survival analysis; the Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the cumulative incidence, and relative risk was estimated with the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: In the endoscopy study, the cumulative incidence of ulcers >/=3 mm at 12 wk in the ibuprofen group (17%) was significantly higher than in the etoricoxib group (8.1%, p < 0.001); similar results were seen for ulcers >/=5 mm. In the placebo group, the rate of ulcers >/=3 mm was 1.86%. Of 3142 patients treated with once-daily etoricoxib and 1828 patients treated with a nonselective NSAID (ibuprofen, naproxen, or diclofenac), 82 patients with investigator-reported upper GI events (71 confirmed) were eligible for the combined analysis. For etoricoxib versus NSAIDs, the rate per 100 patient-yr for confirmed events was 1.16 versus 3.05 (relative risk = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.27-0.72, p < 0.001), whereas that for investigator-reported events was 1.35 versus 3.42 (relative risk = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.30-0.74, p = 0.001). Results were driven primarily by studies with naproxen as the comparator. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of endoscopically detected ulcers was significantly lower with etoricoxib 120 mg than with ibuprofen 2400 mg. Treatment with etoricoxib reduced the incidence of investigator-reported and confirmed adverse upper GI events by approximately 50% compared with treatment with nonselective NSAIDs.     

Comparison of the intestinal toxicity of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, and indomethacin in the experimental rat

BACKGROUND: It is suggested that the gastrointestinal toxicity of conventional non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is due to a 'topical' effect in addition to inhibition of the mucosal constitutive cyclo-oxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzyme. COX-2 selective inhibitors have been shown to have excellent gastrointestinal tolerability, but it is not known whether this is due to their selectivity and/or a lack of a 'topical' effect. We assessed the effects of celecoxib (a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor) on key pathophysiologic events in NSAID enteropathy. METHODS: The 'topical' effects of indomethacin and celecoxib were assessed in vitro (coupled mitochondrial respiration) and in vivo (mitochondrial electron microscopy) and the consequences by study of intestinal permeability (51-Cr-labelled ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid urinary excretion) and inflammation. We also assessed intestinal prostanoid levels (prostaglandin E, PGE) and the propensity of the drugs to induce intestinal ulcers. RESULTS: Indomethacin uncoupled mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo, caused a significant (P < 0.0001) increase in intestinal permeability, caused mucosal inflammation and a 90% decline in intestinal PGE levels, and was associated with multiple small intestinal ulcers. Celecoxib caused no significant increase in any of these parameters, did not decrease intestinal PGE levels, and caused no intestinal ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: The intestinal tolerability of celecoxib appears to be due to a combination of the absence of a 'topical' damaging effect and selective COX inhibition.     

COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布提高人结肠癌细胞SW480的放射敏感性

目的:探讨COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布对人结肠癌细胞SW480放射增敏的作用机制.方法:体外培养结肠癌细胞SW480.COX-2抑制剂塞来昔布作用SW480细胞24 h,X线不同剂量照射,克隆形成法计算细胞存活率,单击多靶模型拟合细胞存活曲线,计算Dq、D0、SF2值和放射增敏比(SER);X线6 Gy照射后,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡变化,应用Western blot方法检测磷酸化Akt、COX-2、磷酸化Bad蛋白的表达.结果:celecoxib联合照射组的Dq、D0及SF2均明显低于单纯照射组(0.995 vs 2.527,1.091 vs 1.622,0.352 vs 0.805,均P<0.05),celecoxib联合照射组SER为1.487;照射能够提高pAkt、COX-2和pBad的表达,celecoxib联合照射组pAkt、COX-2和pBad表达低于单纯照射组;celecoxib联合照射组SW480的细胞凋亡率明显高于单纯照射组(15.02±2.16 vs 6.25±1.22,P<0.05).结论:celecoxib能够抑制P13K／Akt／COX-2途径的活化,从而提高SW480细胞放射治疗的效果.     

The effect of celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, on liver ischemia/reperfusion-induced oxidative stress in rats.

This study examined the effects of celecoxib on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. A total of 40 male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 190-210g were randomized into 4 groups of 10: (1) controls: data from unmanipulated animals; (2) sham group: rats subjected to the surgical procedure, except for liver I/R, and given saline; (3) I/R group: rats that underwent liver ischemia for 1h followed by reperfusion for 45min; (4) I-R/Celecoxib group: rats pretreated with celecoxib (3mgkg(-1), i.p.) 40min before liver I/R. Tc-99m sulfur colloid images were used to measure the uptake ratio and perfusion index. Liver tissues were taken to determine SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, and MDA levels and for biochemical and histological evaluation. The plasma ALT, AST, GGT, and LDH activities were higher in group 3 than in group 4. The uptake ratio was significantly lower in group 3 compared to groups 1, 2, and 4. In addition, in group 4, the uptake ratio and perfusion index were also significantly higher compared to group 3. MDA values and the hepatic injury score decreased, while the SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px values increased in group 4 compared to group 3. In group 3, hepatocytes were swollen with marked vacuolization. Group 4 showed well preserved liver parenchyma with hepatocytes arranged radially around the central vein; there were regular sinusoidal structures with normal morphology without any signs of congestion. We showed that celecoxib has beneficial effects in hepatic I/R injury and may protect the liver.     

Improvements with esomeprazole in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms taking non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, including selective COX-2 inhibitors

OBJECTIVES: Upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are common in patients using non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors and may be acid related. We therefore assessed esomeprazole treatment for upper GI symptoms in these patients. METHODS: A total of 794 and 848 continuous NSAID users, free of gastroduodenal ulcers, erosive esophagitis, and Helicobacter pylori, were enrolled into two identical, multinational, multicenter double-blind studies (NASA1, SPACE1). Moreover, 608 and 556 patients were randomized to receive 4 wk esomeprazole 20 mg, or 40 mg, or placebo once daily. The primary variable was the patient-reported change in the upper GI symptom (pain, discomfort, or burning in the upper abdomen) score on a 7-graded severity scale (0-6) from the 7 days prior to treatment to the last 7 days in the study. RESULTS: Esomeprazole was associated with highly significant symptom improvement compared to placebo. Symptom improvements were 2.30 mean [SD 1.63] on esomeprazole 20 mg and 2.03 [1.56] on esomeprazole 40 mg versus 1.64 [1.57] on placebo in NASA1 and 2.17 [1.34] and 2.12 [1.48]versus 1.56 [1.26], respectively, in SPACE1 (all placebo comparisons at least p < 0.001). Esomeprazole-improved symptoms in patients taking selective COX-2 inhibitors, with changes of 2.21 [1.46] and 1.92 [1.38]versus 1.64 [1.46] in NASA1 and 2.20 [1.26] and 2.24 [1.62]versus 1.58 [1.37] in SPACE1 (all placebo comparisons at least p < 0.05), as well as those on non-selective NSAIDs. Esomeprazole was well tolerated and associated with significant improvements in HRQL. CONCLUSION: Esomeprazole 20 mg and 40 mg improve upper GI symptoms associated with continuous, daily NSAID therapy, including selective COX-2 inhibitors.     

Gastroprotective therapy and risk of gastrointestinal ulcers: risk reduction by COX-2 therapy

OBJECTIVE: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and misoprostol decrease the risk of development of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug induced gastric ulcers and aid healing of upper gastrointestinal (GI) ulcers. H2 receptor antagonists (H2RA) are less effective for this task, but are widely used by patients and physicians for the treatment of GI symptoms and duodenal ulcers. Sucralfate is a weaker agent that is sometimes used for prophylaxis or treatment of upper GI ulcers. We investigated the effect of GI drugs and selective and nonselective NSAID on the incidence of GI ulcer development in a cohort of patients immediately after the release of celecoxib and rofecoxib to investigate the effect of confounding by indication when effective GI agents and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)-specific inhibitors are prescribed to a high risk population. METHODS: During a 6 month period of observation 8547 NSAID users were evaluated by mailed questionnaire concerning NSAID drug use and ulcer development. In the first half of 1999, patients took 12,177 separate NSAID courses. GI therapy that followed the development of upper GI ulcers was excluded from analysis. Ulcer reports were confirmed by followup validation. RESULTS: GI drugs were used concomitantly in this population by 42% of patients using an NSAID. GI drugs were associated with an increased risk of ulcer. But this risk was confined to PPI (OR 4.1, 95% CI 2.95, 5.69), and not to other GI drugs. Overall, patients using nonselective NSAID compared to those taking COX-2-specific inhibitors had an increased risk of upper GI ulcers (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.43, 3.34). Patients taking nonselective NSAID plus PPI were also at increased risk for upper GI ulcers compared to those taking nonselective NSAID alone (OR 5.09. 95% CI 3.88, 6.67). Similarly, the risk of upper GI ulcers was increased in the nonselective NSAID plus PPI group (OR 3.83, 95% CI 2.32, 6.31) compared to the COX-2 plus PPI group. CONCLUSION: PPI use, but not other GI drug use, is a marker for increased susceptibility to ulcers among NSAID users. This risk of upper GI ulcers is increased in PPI users regardless of which NSAID is used (nonselective or COX-2-specific inhibitor). Although COX-2 use is associated with greater risk factors for upper GI ulcers due to channeling bias, COX-2 users have significantly fewer ulcers than equivalent nonselective NSAID users regardless of concomitant PPI utilization.     

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of upper gastrointestinal ulcer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan

Abstract

We evaluated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the association of H. pylori infection and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) ulcers in a cohort of Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using the clinical database of the cohort of RA patients and the serum titers of H. pylori antibody, 1815 patients were analyzed. Clinical data were successfully collected for 1529 patients over 2 years, and the history of NSAID use and the occurrence of newly diagnosed UGI ulcer were ascertained by patient self-reports and confirmed by their medical records. A total of 871 patients (49.3%) were H. pylori antibody-positive. Rates of positivity for H. pylori in patients with and without NSAID use were 47.5% and 54.7%, respectively (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.58–0.96). The incidence of newly diagnosed UGI ulcer was 0% in the H. pylori?/NSAID? group, 1.24% in the H. pylori?/NSAID+ group, 1.06% in the H. pylori+/NSAID? group, and 3.46% in the H. pylori+/NSAID+ group. The odds ratios of H. pylori infection and NSAID for the occurrence of new UGI ulcers after adjusting for age and sex were 2.97 (95% CI: 1.19–7.38) and 4.31 (95% CI: 0.57–32.4), respectively. Although the prevalence of H. pylori antibody was low in patients with RA compared with that in healthy Japanese individuals, H. pylori infection was a significant risk factor for UGI ulcer in patients with RA.     

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of upper gastrointestinal ulcer in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Japan

We evaluated the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and the association of H. pylori infection and/or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use with upper gastrointestinal (UGI) ulcers in a cohort of Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Using the clinical database of the cohort of RA patients and the serum titers of H. pylori antibody, 1815 patients were analyzed. Clinical data were successfully collected for 1529 patients over 2 years, and the history of NSAID use and the occurrence of newly diagnosed UGI ulcer were ascertained by patient self-reports and confirmed by their medical records. A total of 871 patients (49.3%) were H. pylori antibody-positive. Rates of positivity for H. pylori in patients with and without NSAID use were 47.5% and 54.7%, respectively (odds ratio = 0.75, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.58–0.96). The incidence of newly diagnosed UGI ulcer was 0% in the H. pylori−/NSAID− group, 1.24% in the H. pylori−/NSAID+ group, 1.06% in the H. pylori+/NSAID− group, and 3.46% in the H. pylori+/NSAID+ group. The odds ratios of H. pylori infection and NSAID for the occurrence of new UGI ulcers after adjusting for age and sex were 2.97 (95% CI: 1.19–7.38) and 4.31 (95% CI: 0.57–32.4), respectively. Although the prevalence of H. pylori antibody was low in patients with RA compared with that in healthy Japanese individuals, H. pylori infection was a significant risk factor for UGI ulcer in patients with RA.     

Risk factors for complications associated with upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies

AIM: To investigate predictive risk factors associated with complications in the endoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the upper gastrointestinal tract.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 194 patients with a diagnosis of foreign body impaction in the upper gastrointestinal tract,confirmed by endoscopy,at two university hospital in South Korea.Patient demographic data,including age,gender,intention to ingestion,symptoms at admission,and comorbidities,were collected.Clinical features of the foreign bodies,such as type,size,sharpness of edges,number,and location,were analyzed.Endoscopic data those were analyzed included duration of foreign body impaction,duration of endoscopic performance,endoscopic device,days of hospitalization,complication rate,30-d mortality rate,and the number of operationsrelated to foreign body removal.RESULTS: The types of upper gastrointestinal foreign bodies included fish bones,drugs,shells,meat,metal,and animal bones.The locations of impacted foreign bodies were the upper esophagus(57.2%),mid esophagus(28.4%),stomach(10.8%),and lower esophagus(3.6%).The median size of the foreign bodies was 26.2 ± 16.7 mm.Among 194 patients,endoscopic removal was achieved in 189,and complications developed in 51 patients(26.9%).Significant complications associated with foreign body impaction and removal included deep lacerations with minor bleeding(n = 31,16%),ulcer(n = 11,5.7%),perforation(n = 3,1.5%),and abscess(n = 1,0.5%).Four patients underwent operations because of incomplete endoscopic foreign body extraction.In multivariate analyses,risk factors for endoscopic complications and failure were sharpness(HR = 2.48,95%CI: 1.07-5.72; P = 0.034) and a greater than 12-h duration of impaction(HR = 2.42,95%CI: 1.12-5.25,P = 0.025).CONCLUSION: In cases of longer than 12 h since foreign body ingestion or sharp-pointed objects,rapid endoscopic intervention should be provided in patients with ingested foreign bodies.