[Prophylactic effect of Misoprostol on gastric lesions induced by aspirin (ASA) in healthy subjects].

Aspirin (ASA) and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are extensively used for treating rheumatic diseases, inflammatory problems, and pain of different etiologies. However, their use is limited by the damage they may produce to the gastroduodenal mucosa. The purpose of this double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study was to assess and corroborate the protective effect of misoprostol on the gastric mucosa against ASA injury. Following endoscopic screening, 60 healthy male and female subjects were assigned, at random, to one of two treatment groups. One group was treated with ASA (3.0 g/day, in three divided doses) and misoprostol (600 mcg/day, co-administered with ASA); the other with ASA and placebo. After six days of treatment, endoscopy was repeated and the gastric mucosa was graded on a 5 point endoscopic score. Protection was defined as mucosa having an endoscopic score of 2 or less (10 or fewer hemorrhages or erosions). Misoprostol produced a significant (p = 0.005) and profound protection of the gastric mucosa against ASA injury and was well tolerated. These results suggest that misoprostol should have significant therapeutic utility in the treatment and prevention of gastropathy due to NSAIDs.