Endoscopic evaluation of aceclofenac-induced gastroduodenal mucosal damage: a double-blind comparison with sodium diclofenac and placebo

Abstract

Gastroduodenal mucosal damage was endoscopically compared between aceclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and sodium diclofenac or placebo in a double-blind clinical trial. Thirty healthy male volunteers received 150 mg/ day of aceclofenac, 75 mg/day of sodium diclofenac or placebo for 2 weeks. Aceclofenac caused significantly less gastropathy than sodium diclofenac, and placebo caused no gastropathy. Both the gastric mucosal hexosamine content and gastroduodenal blood flow were significantly reduced by sodium diclofenac, while gastric mucosal hexosamine was significantly increased and gastroduodenal blood flow was unchanged with aceclofenac. Aceclofenac appears to have a low potential for causing gastroduodenal mucosal damage in humans.