Selective COX-2 inhibitors, NSAIDs and congestive heart failure: differences between new and recurrent cases.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: Pharmaco-epidemiological studies have shown that in susceptible individuals, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors increase the risk of developing congestive heart failure (CHF). Recently published studies have found lower relative risk (RR) estimates than the initial studies published in 1998-2000. It is unclear whether the level of risk is elevated equally in first time and recurrent cases of CHF.

Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors and coronary occlusion--exploring dose-response relationships.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and ingested doses of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Methods: Case-control study, commenced August 2003. Cases were patients admitted to hospital with ACS (myocardial infarction/unstable angina).

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between complement factor H Y402H polymorphisms and age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world and complement factor H (CFH) polymorphism has been found to associated with the AMD. We performed a meta-analysis to estimate the magnitude of the gene effect and the possible mode of action. A meta-analysis of eight studies assessing association between the CFH Y402H polymorphism and AMD was performed.