Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ( 4 Questions)
A nurse is administering aspirin (ASA), a nonselective COX inhibitor, to a client who has rheumatoid arthritis. What are some of the specific indications of aspirin in this condition?
According to various sources, aspirin is a nonselective COX inhibitor that blocks the production of prostaglandins that are involved in inflammation, pain, fever, and platelet aggregation¹²³⁴. Aspirin is used to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), such as joint swelling, stiffness, and pain¹²³⁴. Aspirin also has antiplatelet effects that can prevent cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, in patients with RA who have an increased risk of atherosclerosis²³. However, aspirin does not modify the course or progression of RA, and it may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, and perforation, as well as hypersensitivity reactions, renal impairment, and Reye's syndrome¹²³⁴. Therefore, aspirin should be used with caution and under medical supervision in patients with RA.
This option is wrong because it is not a specific indication of aspirin in rheumatoid arthritis, but a general indication of aspirin in patients with or at risk of cardiovascular disease . Aspirin can prevent cardiovascular events by inhibiting platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis, but this effect is not related to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, such as inflammation, pain, and fever . However, aspirin may have a secondary benefit of reducing the cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have an increased risk of atherosclerosis .
This option is wrong because it describes the mechanism of action and indication of allopurinol, not aspirin . Allopurinol is a drug that treats gouty arthritis by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase and reducing the production of uric acid, which causes inflammation and pain in the joints . Aspirin does not inhibit xanthine oxidase or reduce uric acid levels, and it is not used to treat gouty arthritis . In fact, aspirin may worsen gouty arthritis by interfering with the renal excretion of uric acid and increasing its concentration in the blood .
This option is wrong because it describes the mechanism of action and indication of misoprostol, not aspirin . Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin that induces labor by stimulating uterine contractions and cervical ripening . Aspirin does not induce labor, but rather blocks the production of prostaglandins that are involved in inflammation, pain, fever, and platelet aggregation
According to various sources, aspirin is a nonselective COX inhibitor that blocks the production of prostaglandins that are involved in inflammation, pain, fever, and platelet aggregation¹²³⁴. Aspirin is used to relieve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), such as joint swelling, stiffness, and pain¹²³⁴. Aspirin also has antiplatelet effects that can prevent cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, in patients with RA who have an increased risk of atherosclerosis²³. However, aspirin does not modify the course or progression of RA, and it may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, ulceration, and perforation, as well as hypersensitivity reactions, renal impairment, and Reye's syndrome¹²³⁴. Therefore, aspirin should be used with caution and under medical supervision in patients with RA.
The other options are incorrect because:
B. It prevents cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke by inhibiting platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis.
This option is wrong because it is not a specific indication of aspirin in rheumatoid arthritis, but a general indication of aspirin in patients with or at risk of cardiovascular disease . Aspirin can prevent cardiovascular events by inhibiting platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis, but this effect is not related to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, such as inflammation, pain, and fever . However, aspirin may have a secondary benefit of reducing the cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have an increased risk of atherosclerosis .
C. It treats gouty arthritis by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase and reducing the production of uric acid.
This option is wrong because it describes the mechanism of action and indication of allopurinol, not aspirin . Allopurinol is a drug that treats gouty arthritis by inhibiting the enzyme xanthine oxidase and reducing the production of uric acid, which causes inflammation and pain in the joints . Aspirin does not inhibit xanthine oxidase or reduce uric acid levels, and it is not used to treat gouty arthritis . In fact, aspirin may worsen gouty arthritis by interfering with the renal excretion of uric acid and increasing its concentration in the blood .
D. It induces labor by stimulating uterine contractions and cervical ripening by blocking the production of prostaglandins.
This option is wrong because it describes the mechanism of action and indication of misoprostol, not aspirin . Misoprostol is a synthetic prostaglandin that induces labor by stimulating uterine contractions and cervical ripening . Aspirin does not induce labor, but rather blocks the production of prostaglandins that are involved in inflammation, pain, fever, and platelet aggregation