Acute damage of gastroduodenal mucosa by acetylsalicylic acid: no prolonged protection by antacids

• Published in: Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics Vol. 3; no. 6; p. 585
• Main Authors: Berstad, K, Haram, E M, Weberg, R, Berstad, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-1989
• Subjects: Adult; Antacids - pharmacology; Aspirin - adverse effects; Aspirin - antagonists & inhibitors; Double-Blind Method; Duodenum - drug effects; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; Female; Gastric Mucosa - drug effects; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Intestinal Mucosa - drug effects; Male; Middle Aged
• ISSN: 0269-2813
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.1989.tb00251.x

Twenty healthy volunteers participated in a double-blind, crossover study to evaluate endoscopically whether low-dose antacids have any prolonged and pH-independent protective capacity against gastroduodenal mucosal damage induced by acetylsalicylic acid. Antacid or placebo one tablet q.d.s. was given for 1.5 days. Acetylsalicylic acid (1.5 g) was administered 3 h after the last dose of antacid/placebo, and gastroscopy was performed 1 h thereafter. Thirteen of 20 subjects showed a decrease in total damage with antacids as compared with placebo, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. Thus, protection by antacids against acetylsalicylic acid-induced gastric mucosal lesions could not be documented at a time when intragastric pH presumably had returned to normal.