Exacerbation of inflammatory bowel diseases associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: myth or reality?

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), conventional and selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, are among the most widely used medications for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions. There is strong evidence of a possible association between the use of these drugs and the relapse of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

Objective: Our objective was to examine the literature regarding the exacerbation of IBD associated with the use of conventional NSAIDs and selective COX-2 inhibitors and the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms.