Assessment of association between non steroid anti- inflammatory drugs and endothelial dysfunction using flow mediated dilatation method

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on endothelial dysfunction (ED).METHODS: Forty osteoarthritis (OA) patients were included in this study. Patients were treated either with naproxen 1000 mg/d or with diclofenac 150 mg/d. Acute phase proteins, serum glucose and lipids were determined. Anthropometric measures including height, weight, waist-hip ratio and body mass index were assessed. Endothelial dysfunction was evaluated by FMD at baseline and after one week of treatment with NSAIDs. FMD measures were made with endothelium dependent dilatation (%FMD) and endothelium independent nitroglycerine induced dilatation (%NTG).RESULTS: Age, sex, serum lipids, serum glucose and acute phase proteins were similar between groups, as well as anthropometric measures. There were no statistically significant differences between naproxen and diclofenac groups at baseline and at first week in terms of % FMD and %NTG (consecutively; %FMD basal: 11.6± 7.8 vs. 11.1 ±6 p=0.42; %NTG basal: 16.3 ± 7.9 vs. 15.6 ± 7.1 p=0.75, %FMD first week: 12.5 ± 8.9 vs. 10.9 ± 5.1 p=0.56, %NTG first week: 15.7 ± 8.8 vs. 13 ± 5.6 p=0.21).There were no difference FMD measurements within groups and all of the patients. No correlation was detected between FMD and age, serum lipids, acute phase proteins and anthropometric measurements.CONCLUSION: This study suggests that NSAIDs (naproxen and diclofenac) does not impair endothelial dysfunction after short term use.KEY WORDS: Non steroid antiinflammatory drugs, endothelial dysfunction, flow mediated dilatation