[Antacids and gastric mucosa. Protective effect of an antacid on acetylsalicylic acid induced functional lesions in the human gastric mucosa].

Salicylates do induce functional and morphological changes of the gastric mucosa: increased H+-back-diffusion, increased Na+-influx, and increased blood loss. Several functional parameters of the gastric mucosal barrier correlate with the transmural electrical potential difference (PD) which can be used as a sensitive, but unspecific parameter to detect functional changes of the gastric mucosal barrier. The effect of a salicylate alone and in presence of a liquid antiacid (Gastropulgit Gel) on transmural PD was measured in healthy volunteers. The presence of an antacid prevented the salicylate-induced drop of transmural PD. The tested antacid seems to exert a protective effect towards acute damage of the gastric mucosa induced by salicylates.