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Nimesulide in the Treatment of Patients Intolerant of Aspirin and other NSAIDs

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Summary

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) and other NSAIDs are responsible for many adverse effects. Among them, pseudo-allergic reactions (urticaria/angioedema, asthma, anaphylaxis) affect up to 9% of the population and up to 30% of asthmatic patients. The mechanisms provoking these reactions have not been fully elucidated, but it appears that inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) plays a central role.

The anti-inflammatory action of nimesulide differs from that of other NSAIDs, possibly because of its chemical structure. In particular, nimesulide is selective for COX-2 and displays additional properties in terms of its effects on inflammatory mediator synthesis and release. For these reasons, nimesulide is generally well tolerated by NSAID-intolerant patients and patients with NSAID-induced asthma. The good tolerability of nimesulide as an alternative drug for use in patients with NSAID intolerance has been demonstrated in a large number of clinical studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Allergy Unit, Verona General Hospital, Verona, Italy

    Gian E. Senna, Giovanni Andri, Anna R. Dama &  Luigi Andri

  2. Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

    Giovanni Passalacqua, Monica Albano & Laura Fregonese

  3. Servizio Autonomo di Allergologia, Ospedale Civile Maggiore, P.za Stefani 1, 23100, Verona, Italy

    Luigi Andri

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  1. Gian E. Senna
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  2. Giovanni Passalacqua
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  3. Giovanni Andri
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  4. Anna R. Dama
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  5. Monica Albano
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  6. Laura Fregonese
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  7. Luigi Andri
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Senna, G.E., Passalacqua, G., Andri, G. et al. Nimesulide in the Treatment of Patients Intolerant of Aspirin and other NSAIDs. Drug-Safety 14, 94–103 (1996). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002018-199614020-00004

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