Prostaglandins and peptic ulcer therapy

The expectation that prostaglandin analogues would improve the ulcer healing abilities of other agents by combining mucosal protection with decreased acid secretion has been proved unwarranted. The ulcer healing capabilities of these drugs reflect their antisecretory potency. A role for these drugs in ulcer healing is questionable but their use has been advocated most strongly to prevent ulceration developing during treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. While some evidence supports this role, an important clinical benefit of reducing complication rates has yet to be demonstrated.