Anti-inflammatory effect of meloxicam on experimental vasospasm in the rat femoral artery.

Cerebral vasospasm influences morbidity and mortality following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Inflammation is believed to play a role in post-haemorrhagic vasospasm. Meloxicam is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. We investigated the effect of meloxicam on a rat femoral artery vasospasm model using the radial wall thickness and cross-sectional lumen area as parameters under light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy examination. Rats were randomly separated into SAH, SAH+ meloxicam and control groups. Rats in the SAH+ meloxicam group were given meloxicam at 2 mg/kg daily for 7 days. Femoral arteries were examined by light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and for morphometric analysis. A statistically significant difference (p<0.001) was detected between the SAH and SAH+ meloxicam groups. Meloxicam treatment reduced ultrastructural and morphometric vasospastic changes. These findings support the hypothesis that inflammation may play a role in the pathophysiologyical pathways of post-haemorrhagic cerebral vasospasm.