ABSTRACT
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 and 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 micro mol/ml on the heart in vitro, but no change in aortic basal tone. Also, interaction of meloxicam, in dose ranging from 0.03-0.3 micro mol/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 micro gram/kg, while chronic intra-peritoneal administration produced no significant changes. Acute intravenous injection of meloxicam in a dose ranging from 0.03 - 0.3 micro g/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 gastrointestinal system, increasing the blood flow to these beds