NSAIDs tied to risk of heart attack, stroke

Many psoriasis patients, particularly those with psoriatic arthritis, take pain relievers, making this American Heart Association statement important also to people with psoriasis. The link between these pain relievers and heart attack also highlights the need for further study into the link seen between severe psoriasis and heart attack: to what extent is the psoriasis-heart attack link due to use of these NSAIDs by psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients, versus due to something about the disease itself?

Doctors treating people for chronic pain should avoid using all medications -- at least at first -- the American Heart Association advised yesterday in guidelines designed to have a significant impact on the use of medications known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs.

The scientific statement said that, with the exception of aspirin, there is now strong evidence that NSAIDs are associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. If 100 patients who have had heart attacks in the past or are at risk for heart disease take these drugs for a year, researchers would expect to see six additional deaths in this group. NSAIDs reduce fever, pain and inflammation.

The statement expressed particular concern over a subgroup of these drugs known as Cox-2 inhibitors. The only drug in this group currently on the market in the United States is Celebrex.