[Nonsteroidal antirheumatic agents and the gastrointestinal system].

The antiinflammatory drugs are broadly used also in the treatment of inflammatory and degenerative rheumatic diseases relating to the treatment of extraarticular rheumatism. It has been held that they have an effect in rheumatic diseases even by means of the inhibition of prostaglandins synthesis. Later it was evidented that all drugs coming from that group cause a numerous side-effects particularly in gastrointestinal system, usually relating to those caming a strong inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. Some of them cause a selective inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis especially in stomach and kidneys. The appearance of side-effects in gastrointestinal system with patients taking these drugs for a longer period of time could be prevented by a careful choice of their usage. It has been evidented that misoprostol strongly effect the prevention of stomach lesions and duodenum enabling so the usage of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs over a longer period of time.