How can pain relievers aid heart stenting?
A popular prescription pain reliever is in the news. According to a study reported in a recent issue of the Medical Journal The Lancet, Celebrex (celecoxib) may be used in the future by heart specialists to aid in heart stenting procedures. Stents are small lattice-shaped, metal or plastic devices inserted into an artery or blood vessel.
Drug-coated stents are designed to prevent arterial scarring and keep the blood vessel open. In a study of 274 individuals who had previously had drug releasing or drug-coated stents inplanted, Celebrex (400 mg daily) taken for 6 months following the stenting procedure lowered the incidence of stenosis (reclosure) of heart blood vessels compared to those who did not receive Celebrex.
Researchers added that further studies are needed to confirm these findings. Celebrex is a Cox-2 inhibitor type pain reliever and is the only drug in this pain reliever class. Some health experts suggest that an anti-inflammatory and an antiproliferative effect from Celebrex may be the contributing factor of the beneficiary effect in persons with drug-coated stents.