A comparative endoscopic evaluation of the damaging effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents on the gastric and duodenal mucosa.

Abstract Twenty-five normal volunteers were randomized into five equal parallel groups. Groups I received ibuprofen (2,400 mg./day); group II received tolmetin (2,000 mg./day); group III received indomethacin (150 mg./day); group IV received naproxen (750 mg./day) and group V received placebo (four tablets daily). All drugs were given on a q.i.d. basis except naproxen which was given b.i.d. The doses selected represented the manufacturer's highest recommended dosage for the treatment of arthritic disorders. A single-blind technic was used in which the investigators were unaware of which drug each volunteer was taking. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and photography were carried out before and after seven days of administration of each medication. Gastric and duodenal mucosal injury was graded on a 0-4 + scale. Three of the four drugs studied produced essentially equal gastric and duodenal mucosal injury with tolmetin producing the most damage followed by naproxen and indomethacin. Ibuprofen produced gastric mucosal injury equivalent to that seen with naproxen and indomethacin but no duodenal mucosal injury was seen with this drug. Extremely poor correlation was found between subjective symptomatology and endoscopic findings.