COX-2 inhibitors inhibit recovery from heart attacks

Bicarbonate transporters, enzymes critical to maintaining this delicate balance of bicarbonate across the cell membrane, are inhibited from doing their work by some anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib, the active ingredient in Celebrex.

The work indicates the reported side effects of celecoxib may result from their unintended inhibition of the body’s ability to move bicarbonate. Bicarbonate is the primary buffer of our bodies and the primary waste product of cellular energy production.

• Some new generation COX-2 inhibitors may not allow heart attack patients to recover fully, research indicates.
• Researchers at the University of Alberta have discovered a basic cellular process the body uses to balance pH in cells--also critical to recovery following a heart attack--is compromised by certain novel COX-2 inhibitors.
• Bicarbonate transporters, enzymes critical to maintaining this delicate balance of bicarbonate across the cell membrane, are potently inhibited from doing their work by some clinically used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as celecoxib, the active ingredient in Celebrex.
• Celecoxib is an effective anti-inflammatory drug because of its effects on the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2).
• The work from the Casey laboratory indicates that the reported side-effects of celecoxib may result from their unintended inhibition of the body's ability to move bicarbonate.