Cyclooxygenase inhibitors acetylsalicylic acid and indomethacin do not affect capsaicin-induced neurogenic inflammation in human skin.

Neurogenic inflammation is evoked by neuropeptides released from primary afferent terminals and, presumably, by other secondarily released inflammatory mediators. This study examines whether prostaglandins might participate in the development of neurogenic inflammation in humans and whether cyclooxygenase inhibitors have any anti-inflammatory effect on this type of inflammation. In healthy volunteers, neurogenic inflammation was elicited by epicutaneously applied capsaicin (1%), after systemic pretreatment with acetylsalicylic acid, or topically applied indomethacin compared to pretreatment with saline or vehicle, respectively. The extent of neurogenic inflammation was quantified by planimetry of visible flare size and recording the increase of superficial cutaneous blood flow (SCBF) with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Capsaicin-induced flare sizes and outside SCBF (both representing neurogenically evoked inflammation) were unaffected by acetylsalicylic acid or indomethacin. Only the capsaicin-induced increase of inside SCBF was attenuated by local pretreatment with indomethacin, reflecting the participation of prostaglandins in the inflammatory response of those areas which were in direct contact with capsaicin.