Too Hot to Handle: The Impact of NSAIDs and Mild Illness on Heat Stroke Morbidity in Mice

Lisa Leon, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

April 12, 2019 @ 11:15 am to April 19, 2019 @ 12:15 pm

127 Noll Laboratory
University Park

Friday 12 April
“Too Hot to Handle: The Impact of NSAIDs and Mild Illness on Heat Stroke Morbidity in Mice,” Lisa Leon, Ph.D., Chief, Thermal & Mountain Medicine Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA, 11:15 am to 12:15 pm, 127 Noll Laboratory, host: Department of Kinesiology (865-7575).

Abstract: Heat stroke (HS) is a life-threatening condition that is clinically characterized by central nervous system dysfunction (delirium, combativeness, seizures, coma) and the presence of severe hyperthermia (core temperature typically >40°C [104°F]). While low physical fitness, lack of heat acclimatization and cardiovascular disease are factors known to increase HS risk, medication use and prior mild illness have also been implicated, but not extensively studied. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen) represent one of the most widely used classes of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. NSAIDs are used to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation and are thought to prevent hyperthermia during heat exposure in a manner that is similar to their effectiveness in reducing fever. On the other hand, mild illness is thought to exacerbate HS by potentiating the hyperthermic response during heat exposure. This seminar will present recent findings from a mouse HS model that oral indomethacin (a prescription NSAID) had no effect on the hyperthermic response to heat exposure, but significantly increased HS severity during recovery due to direct toxic effects on the gut mucosa. Similarly, in the absence of over clinical symptoms, a mild illness had no effect on hyperthermia, but increased HS severity during recovery through exacerbated inflammation and disruptions in coagulation. The implications of these findings for the prevention of HS will be discussed. Author views not official US Army or DOD policy.

Contact

Larry Kenney
w7k@psu.edu
814-863-1672