Effect of Phenylbutazone, Flunixin Meglumine and Firocoxib on ex vivo Cyclo-oxygenase Activity in Horses Undergoing Elective Surgery

Aims: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) inhibit the production of prostaglandins and other inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the activity of the cyclo-oxygenase enzymes (COX). Two major isoforms of COX enzymes exist: COX-2, which is expressed during the inflammatory response, and COX-1, which is responsible for the physiological production of prostaglandin that regulates tissue homeostasis. The study aims to evaluate the effect of firocoxib ex vivo in the horse as, to the authors’ knowledge, published studies assess its effect only in vitro.

Methods: Horses (n = 18) undergoing elective surgery were recruited and allocated to treatment groups depending on clinician preference (1) phenylbutazone (4.4 mg/kg bwt i.v. b.i.d.), (2) flunixin meglumine (FM, 1.1 mg/kg bwt i.v. b.i.d.) and (3) firocoxib (FIR, 0.1 mg/kg bwt i.v. s.i.d.). Residual blood samples were collected prior to NSAIDs (T0), 2 h after NSAIDs (T2), and 24 h following surgery (T24). The COX activity was measured using validated immune-enzymatic assays. A Kruskall–Wallis test was used to determine the effect of time and treatment on COX-1 and COX-2 activity. Bonferroni corrections were used to identify the level of significance accounting for multiple comparisons (P<0.017). [...]