Prostaglandin for NSAID-Induced Small-Bowel Injury

Misoprostol reduced incidence of small-intestine lesions caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy.

Gastroduodenal injury from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be prevented by administration of prostaglandin (PG) or by suppressing gastric acid. However, the mechanism of injury for the small bowel seems to be different from that in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and the most efficient means of preventing small-bowel injury remains unclear.

Investigators in Japan performed a pilot study to determine the ability of a PG (misoprostol) to prevent such injury. Thirty-two healthy patients were randomized either to NSAID therapy (diclofenac; 25 mg three times daily) plus a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI; omeprazole; 20 mg once daily) for 2 weeks (control group) or to the NSAID treatment plus PG (misoprostol; 200 µg three times dail…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose