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A comparison of upper gastrointestinal mucosal damage by standard and delayed‐release indomethacin
Author(s) -
SWIFT G. L,
ARNOLD J.,
WILLIAMS G. T.,
WILLIAMS B. D.,
RHODES J.,
KHAN F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.1992.tb00736.x
Subject(s) - medicine , duodenal bulb , erythema , gastroenterology , mucosal lesions , endoscopy , stomach , surgery
SUMMARY Forty‐five patients taking long‐term indomethacin and with endoscopic erosions or superficial ulcers in the oesophagus, stomach or duodenal bulb were randomized in a double‐blind study to continue with standard indomethacin or receive a ‘delayed‐release’ formulation. This consisted of microgranules of indomethacin coated with an acrylic resin, Eudragit L, which releases drug in the small intestine. Endoscopy was repeated after 8 weeks and biopsies taken on both occasions. Changes in endoscopic lesions and histological appearances were similar in both groups, although mucosal erythema was less in those given Eudragit L indomethacin. Systemic, rather than topical, effects of indomethacin may therefore be responsible for persistence of gastro‐duodenal mucosal lesions in these patients. There is reason to question the clinical practice of using expensive, delayed‐release preparations.