INDOMETHACIN POTENTIATES EXERCISE-INDUCED REDUCTION IN RENAL HEMODYNAMICS IN ATHLETES

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are frequently used in sp orts medicine but few studies have documented their potential importan ce in modifying exercise-induced changes in renal function. The effect s of indomethacin (50 mg orally every 8 h for 36 h) on renal blood now (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were investigated in eight fit healthy males (age 21-42) before and after 30-min treadmill exerc ise at 80% VO2max and during 120-min recovery. Each volunteer served a s their own control. There were no differences between control and ind omethacin for the resting values of RBF, GFR, or renal vascular resist ance (RVR). Using analysis of variance for repeated measures, indometh acin produced a significant reduction in RBF compared with control (P = 0.009) that was associated with a significant elevation in RVR (P = 0.027). Changes in GFR mirrored the changes in RBF but differences fai led to reach statistical significance. These results suggest that with sustained exercise indomethacin can compromise renal function and pot entiate the risk of developing acute renai failure. Indomethacin and o ther NSAID are widely used in the sports arena, and athletes should be warned of the potential danger of their use when renal function may b e compromised.