Effect of a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug zalto-profen on rat gastric blood flow.

Zaltoprofen, a novel nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), shows potent anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-pyretic effects. Although gastrointestinal dysfunction is a common side effect of NSAIDs, effects of zaltoprofen on the gastric functions have not yet fully clarified. In the present study, we report the effect of zaltoprofen on gastric blood flow (GBF) and on capacity to generate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in gastric mucosa of the rat. zaltoprofen (1 and 10 mg/kg, i.v.) showed no effect on the GBF, which was measured by the laser Doppler method. On the other hand, loxoprofen Na (1 mg/kg, i.v.) and diclofenac Na (10 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly decreased the GBF. Moreover loxoprofen Na (1 mg/ kg, p.o.), diclofenac Na (1 mg/kg, p.o.) and indomethacin (1 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly inhibited the gastric mucosal generation of PGE2, which was measured by the radioimmunoassay method. On the contrary, zaltoprofen (1 mg/kg, p.o.) did not inhibit the PGE2generation.These results suggest that zaltoprofen may not cause marked gastric dysfunction comparing with loxoprofen Na, diclofenac Na and indomethacin. This characteristic of zaltoprofen may be beneficial for long-term use for therapy of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.