Gastric bleeding and benorylate, a new aspirin

Benorylate (4-acetamidophenyl 2-acetoxybenzoate) is a new esterified aspirin preparation whose antirheumatic properties are reported to be as good as those of aspirin. Gastrointestinal blood loss, measured with (51)Cr-labelled red cells, during benorylate therapy was compared with that during therapy with soluble aspirin in 15 subjects, a simplified crossover procedure being used. Mean blood loss during benorylate therapy was 1.7 ml/day which was significantly less than that during therapy with soluble aspirin (5.1 ml/day; P <0.001). In 12 of the 15 patients blood loss with benorylate was less than 2.5 ml/day. Benorylate appears to be a definite improvement on current formulations of aspirin and should be a useful drug for the treatment of patients with chronic rheumatic disorders.