Can NSAIDs Increase VTE Risk?

Individuals using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), according to a recent study.

According to the authors, the study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis of published observational studies that evaluate NSAID’s users’ risk of VTE.
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For the 6 studies (1cohort and 5 case-control studies) researchers evaluated 21,401 VTE events, finding a major increase of VTE risk among participants using NSAID (1.80-fold) compared to participants who did not take NSAIDS.

“Our results show a statistically significant increased VTE risk among NSAIDs users. Why NSAIDs may increase the risk of VTE is unclear. It is possibly related to COX-2 inhibition leading to thromboxane-prostacyclin imbalance,” said Patompong Ungprasert, MD, the study’s lead author and researchers at Bassett Medical Center, New York, NY.

“Physicians should be aware of this association and NSAIDs should be prescribed with caution, especially in patients already at a higher risk of VTE,” he said.

Investigators noted that the different types of NSAIDs were examined as 1 group instead of individually, since not all NSAID’s would increase VTE risk.

The complete study is published in the September issue of Rheumatology.

-Michelle Canales

References:

Ungprasert P, Srivali N, Wijarnpreecha K, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of venous thromboembolism: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Rheumatology. 2014 September [epub ahead of print] doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keu408.

Oxford University Press. New study demonstrates significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism among NSAIDs users. September 23, 2014. www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=145581&CultureCode=en. Accessed September 25, 2014.