Improving the Gastrointestinal Safety of NSAIDs The Development of Misoprostol-From Hypothesis to Clinical Practice

摘要: Arthritis is a major source of disability forthe American population. It results in significantmorbidity for the millions patients affected andcosts billions dollars yearly diagnosis andmanagement. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)are principal therapy majority arthritispatients. has been estimated that more than 15million people with arthritis take these daily. This use predicted to increase greatly notonly as result an aging population, theconsequent prevalence arthritis, butalso because NSAIDs may prove have role indecreasing colonic neoplasia and reducing thelikelihood conditions such Alzheimer's disease. Itis therefore increasingly important understand thenature side effects associated agents well ways decreasing or preventingtheir occurrence. inhibit enzymescyclooxygenase-1 cyclooxygenase-2. reduces thesynthesis prostaglandins decreasesjoint inflammation, but it also lead thedevelopment gastric duodenal ulcers. For thisreason, exogenous studied fortheir potential preventing NSAID-associated ulcers ulcer complications. paperreviews development prostagland inE1 analog misoprostol, theory behind itsuse mucosal protective agent, ofstudies animals normal volunteers patientswith arthritis. Ultimately, study was performed toevaluate whether misoprostol incidence ofserious complications taking NSAIDs. interesting story, which promises tobe increasing importance NSAID expands newindications while concern remains about their associatedcomplications, especially those related gastrointestinal tract.