[Role of gastric acid and neutrophils in NSAID-induced microcirculatory disturbance].

: It has been well known that gastric mucosal damage induced by NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is augmented by the presence of high concentrations of acid in the gastric lumen. The precise mechanism has not been clearly demonstrated. Recently it has been reported that mucosal microcirculatory disturbance induced by NSAIDs with gastric acid plays an important role in gastric mucosal damage. These reports indicate that gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance elicited by NSAIDs is mediated by neutrophils adhering to microvascular endothelium. Some kinds of antisecretary drugs can protect against gastric mucosal injury associated with NSAIDs by anti-inflammatory effects as well as acid inhibition.