Therapeutic Review Carprofen

Antiinflammatory compounds are routinely used in veterinary medicine to manage traumatic injuries, provide analgesia, alter glucose metabolism, control allergies, and treat a variety of disease presentations. Historically, steroidal antiinflammatory agents were used to manage the majority of the cases described above; however, these compounds have lost favor in veterinary medicine because of their potential side effects. One significant concern limiting their use relates to their negative effect on the immune system. The potential immunosuppressive action associated with steroidal antiinflammatories include the suppression of T-lymphocytes, limiting the migration of inflammatory cells, the reduction of chemotaxins, and decreased antigen processing.1 Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do not produce the same negative immunosuppressive effects and are finding greater acceptance in veterinary medicine. The NSAIDs are not only being used to provide antiinflammatory properties, but analgesic and antipyretic properties too. These compounds are generally thought to work by inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins, cyclooxygenase, and phospholipase A2. Their effectiveness varies depending on how well they inhibit the inflammatory response. Carprofen is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory compound that is licensed for use in dogs with osteoarthritis and as a postoperative analgesic. This NSAID is from the propionic acid class, which includes ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen. Carprofen is soluble in alcohol, but practically insoluble in water. The mechanism of action of this compound is likely attributed to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) activity. There are two different COX enzymes that have been described in mammals: COX-1 and COX-2. Historically, compounds with activity against COX-1 enzymes were believed to affect the synthesis of prostaglandins important to normal gastrointestinal and renal function, while inhibition