Rioprostil prevents gastric bleeding induced by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in dogs and arthritic rats

Gastrointestinal irritation is the most significant side effect in patients chronically taking nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) for treatment of arthritic conditions. Rioprostil, a primary alcohol prostaglandin E1 analog, prevents gastric bleeding induced by several NSAID in a rat model of arthritis that is similar in many aspects to human rheumatoid arthritis. Daily oral dosing of rioprostil (50 micrograms/kg BID for 15 days) did not influence the course of the adjuvant disease in rats or alter the antiinflammatory or analgesic effect of the NSAID. In a 13 week efficacy study in dogs, rioprostil (40-60 micrograms/kg, PO) completely prevented gastric hemorrhagic lesions induced by daily administration of aspirin.