[Effects of enprostil on changes in the gastric transepithelial potential differential induced by aspirin]

Enprostil (E), is a semisynthetic E2 prostaglandin with wide-range antisecretory properties. Administered orally E reduced mucosal injury in rats exposed to NSAID and gastric acid. The aim of the present study was to analyze the cytoprotective effect of 7 micrograms of E on the aspirin-induced (500 mg) decrease in gastric transepithelial difference of potential (DP) in a) five healthy volunteers and b) five patients with epigastric heartburn, normal endoscopy and a low gastric DP (mucosal barrier weakness). Aspirin-induced decrease of gastric DP was measured during two four hour periods separated by an interval of two days: a) during a one hour basal period and after three hours after 7 micrograms of E, and b) during a second basal period and one hour after aspirin, E, and then aspirin again. The following parameters were analyzed: maximal drop of DP DP Max (mV), area under the curve of DP drop, AUC (mV.min), and time to return to basal values, TRB (min). In the control group, when E was administered after aspirin, the decrease in DP Max (11.4 +/- 2.3 vs 6.6 +/- 2.1) and in AUC (68 +/- 22 vs 35 +/- 11) was significant (p less than 0.05) as compared with values obtained after aspirin alone. In the patient group, E produced a significant decrease in aspirin-induced DP Max (11.8 +/- 1.9 vs 6.8 +/- 2.4) (p less than 0.003) and in AUC (117 +/- vs 48 less than 22) (p less than 0.006) as well as in TRB (52 +/- 2 vs 37 +/- 10) (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)