Efficacy of sucralfate in preventing peptic ulceration induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

: The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used analgesics associated with a significant incidence of gastritis and/or peptic ulceration. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of sucralfate (SC) in reducing NSAID-induced ulceration in a rat model. Nine groups of 20 rats each were segregated by drug(s) tested. Two NSAIDs, aspirin (ASA) and indomethacin (IND), were tested. Control groups consisted of saline only, ASA only, and IND only. SC was tested against ASA and IND separately, being administered 5 minutes preceding, mixed with, or 5 minutes following each NSAID. Administration of SC before ASA resulted in a reduction of mean ulcers per rat from 10.4 +/- 4.3 to 1.1 +/- 1.3 (P less than or equal to .0001). Administration of SC prior to IND resulted in a reduction of mean ulcer rate from 6.6 +/- 5.4 to 3.0 +/- 3.3 (P less than or equal to .02). When SC was given with IND or following it, no reduction in ulcer rate was observed. When SC was given with ASA or following it, the ulcer rate was reduced to 5.3 +/- 3.0 (P less than or equal to .002). It is concluded that SC is effective in reducing NSAID-induced ulcer production especially when administered before NSAID ingestion.