Effects of commonly used non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on gastric mucosa. A clinical, endoscopic and histopathological study.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are known to produce gastro-intestinal lesions. In the present work we found that aspirin, indomethacin and oxyphenbutazone caused gastric mucosal damage in 90.9%, 100% and 100% respectively, while ibuprofen and paracetamol caused damage in 33.3% and 37.5% of cases respectively. Thus the latter two drugs were much safer NSAIDs. Furthermore we demonstrated that endoscopic monitoring of patients on NSAIDs is a sensitive method for early detection of gastric mucosal damage. This monitoring may be particularly valuable in high risk subjects on NSAIDs.