Effects of prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors on the upper urinary tract

Summary Prostaglandin inhibitors such as indomethacin have been used for the treatment of renal colic. While opioids have a central analgesic effect, the effects of indomethacin are mainly peripheral, acting directly on the kidney. Pharmacourodynamic investigations of the upper urinary tract in men have demonstrated that intravenous indomethacin reduces renal pelvic pressure. These effects are more intense with indomethacin than with metamizol and are not found with hyoscine butylbromide. We have determined that indomethacin reduces the smooth muscle activity of human renal pelvis preparations in a tissue bath. These findings may represent a further possible direct effect of indomethacin on the upper urinary tract during the treatment of renal colic.