Antiinflamatórios não esteróides inibidores da ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2): aspectos atuais

Abstract

Due to the high incidence of NSAID-related side-effects, the discovery of two cycloxygenase isoforms, classified as: COX-1 or constitutive and COX-2 or inductive, has formulated the paradigm that NSAIDs anti-inflammatory properties would be mediated by COX-2 inhibition, and side-effects, by COX-1 blockade. However, COX-2 has been constitutively detected in normal tissues raising the question of how really safe are specific inhibitors of such enzyme. This review aimed to report new clinical and experimental evidences involving COX-2 and its specific inhibitors.