Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are among the most commonly used drugs all
over the world in treatment of a variety of rheumatic disorders and are commonly used in
patients with cardio-vascular disorders. The present work, aimed to study the
cardiovascular modulatory effects of meloxicam (selective COX-2 inhibitor) through in
vitro experiments (isolated rabbits heart & aortic strip) and in vivo study that was done
on albino rats, through which we investigated the effect of meloxicam on the blood
pressure, by blood pressure transducer, and blood flow to different vascular beds and
hence different organs as gastrointestinal tract and kidney, using doppler flowmetry. This
work was also accompanied by biochemical studies (Liver and kidney functions). The
results revealed a cardio-stimulatory effect of meloxicam in a dose ranging from 0.03 — 0.3
p.mol/m1 on the heart in vitro, but no change in aortic basal tone . Also, interaction of
meloxicam, in dose ranging from 0.03 — 0.3 μmol/ml, with different vasopressor agonists
(noradrenaline, angiotensin and serotonin) showed no change in aortic basal tone. There
was a statistically significant dose dependant increase in the blood pressure upon acute
intravenous injection of meloxicam in a dose ranging from 0.03 — 0.3 pg/kg, while chronic
intra-peritoneal administration produced no significant changes. Acute intravenous
injection of meloxicam in a dose ranging from 0.03 — 0.3 tg/kg produced an increase in
both renal blood flow to the values of 14 + 1.3, 17+ 3.0 and 21 + 2.0 cm/sec and mesenteric
blood flow giving values of 21 + 2.0, 25 + 1.5 and 30.0 + 3.0 cm/sec, while chronic
administration produced no significant changes. There was no effect of meloxicam on the
hindquarter or carotid blood flow in neither acute nor chronic administration. The results
of the biochemical studies showed no alteration of the biochemical parameters within
therapeutic doses. In conclusion, meloxicam was found to have a positive inotropic effect
on the heart and safe towards the kidney and gastro-intestinal system , increasing the
blood flow to these beds. |
