Effects of dazmegrel, piroxicam and cyclophosphamide on the NZB/W model of SLE.

To investigate the potential importance of prostaglandins and thromboxane in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the effects of a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (piroxicam) and a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor (dazmegrel) were examined on survival, proteinuria, food consumption, body weight, and peripheral lymphocyte subset distribution in the NZB/W model of autoimmune lupus disease. The effect of an immunosuppressant (cyclophosphamide) known to be effective in the treatment of murine lupus on these parameters was also examined. Cyclophosphamide at 25 mg/kg ip weekly prolonged survival, inhibited proteinuria and prevented the characteristic decline in peripheral T cells and the relative increase in B cells seen in NZB/W lupus disease while having no apparent effect on body weight or food consumption. Neither dazmegrel at 50 or 200 mg/kg/day in the diet nor piroxicam at 2 mg/kg/day in the diet had any significant effects on these parameters.