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Short report: the effect of misoprostol on the anaemia of NSAID enteropathy
Author(s) -
MORRIS A. J.,
MURRAY L.,
STURROCK R. D.,
MADHOK R.,
CAPELL H. A.,
MACKENZIE J. F.
Publication year - 1994
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.1365-2036.1994.tb00298.x
Subject(s) - misoprostol , medicine , enteropathy , gastroenterology , iron deficiency , surgery , anemia , pregnancy , genetics , disease , abortion , biology
SUMMARY Background : Small bowel ulceration is an increasingly recognised complication of therapy with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The ulceration is a potent site of blood loss contributing to unexplained iron deficiency anaemia in patients with arthritis. No drug is currently available to treat NSAID small bowel ulcers. Methods : We have retrospectively examined the effect of therapy with the prostaglandin El analogue misoprostol on the anaemia of patients with enteroscopically proven NSAID small bowel enteropathy. Results : All of the patients had proven iron deficiency anaemia. Eleven patients received misoprostol and ten received no treatment. Haemoglobin in the misoprostol‐treated group rose significantly from median (range) 9.1 (6.2–10.6) g/dL (95% confidence intervals 8.76, 10.13) to 10.6 (6.5–16.8) g/dL (95% confidence intervals 10.06, 11.82); P = 0.004). Those patients who did not receive misoprostol had no significant change in their haemoglobin: 9.1 (7.5–10.6) g/dL to 8.1 (5.6–14.7) g/dL ( P = N.S.). Conclusion : Misoprostol therapy was associated with an improvement in the anaemia in patients with proven NSAID enteropathy.