Aspirin-induced gastroduodenal injury and its prevention by prostaglandins

It appears likely that aspirin injury and thus bleeding is due to both inhibition of the mucosal synthesis of protective endogenous prostanoids and to a local irritant effect. This injury can be abolished in humans by acid-inhibitory doses of prostaglandins and can probably be ameliorated by 'cytoprotective' doses. It has yet to be shown that the gastropathy seen in patients taking long-term aspirin-like drugs can be prevented or treated by prostaglandins. The clinical relevance of such protection has not yet been established.