NSAIDs and Small-Bowel Injury

In a healthy volunteer cohort, a nonselective NSAID plus omeprazole for 2 weeks was associated with more GI lesions than was a coxib.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with lesions throughout the gastrointestinal tract and with an increase in intestinal permeability. Some studies have suggested that cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (coxibs) are associated with lower risk for small-bowel lesions than are nonselective NSAIDs.

To evaluate this issue, U.S. investigators randomized 334 healthy young adults (mean age, 33) to receive celecoxib (200 mg twice daily), ibuprofen (800 mg thrice daily) plus omeprazole (20 mg once daily), or placebo. Prior to randomization, all volunteers refrained from using NSAIDs, aspirin, or alcohol for 2 weeks and then underwent video capsule endoscopy. After taking one of the drugs for 2 weeks, each participant underwent a se…

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