COX-2 and renal function

NEW YORK, July 18 (Praxis Press) A new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs selectively inhibits cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and may produce fewer adverse effects than nonselective inhibitors. However, animal studies suggest that COX-2 is important for normal renal function. Swan and colleagues conducted a randomized, controlled trial of varied doses of rofecoxib (a selective COX-2 inhibitor at therapeutic doses), indomethacin (a COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitor), and placebo in elderly people on a low-sodium diet. Both rofecoxib and indomethacin significantly decreased the patients' glomerular filtration rate. Selective COX-2 inhibitors are also potentially nephrotoxic.