[Non-steroidal ant-inflammatory drugs and inflammation of the colon]

A retrospective study with use of a control group was performed to determine the role of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) in the pathogenesis of diverticulitis which necessitated laparotomy. Of the 46 patients, 18 (39%) used NSAIDs. The relative risk of an NSAID-related laparotomy was 4.3. The prognosis and mortality of the patients with an NSAID-related laparotomy were not worse than those of patients who did not use NSAIDs. The files of 50 patients with active colitis were retrospectively studied to determine the role of NSAIDs in generating inflammation of the large bowel. 5 patients used NSAIDs, of whom 2 appeared to have a colitis directly caused by the use of NSAIDs. NSAID-induced inflammation of (diverticula of) the large bowel appears to be less frequent than severe complications due to NSAID related peptic ulcers. However, they should not be disregarded.