title: [The activity of misoprostol on the gastric and duodenal mucosal damage in patients with liver cirrhosis].
abstract: Twenty-five liver cirrhosis patients with endoscopically demonstrated gastro-duodenal mucosal damage (microhemorrhages, erosions, ulcers) were treated with misoprostol (prostaglandin E1) 400 mg/die. Eleven patients (44%) had abdominal pain and diarrhea and stopped treatment. Three months later, a new endoscopy was performed in the 11 patients that completed the study (3 patients were lost at follow up). Mucosal damage was stable in 5 patients (45%) and improved in 6 patients (55%), with complete absence of mucosal lesions in 2 patients (P = 0.027, Wilcoxon Ranks test). No case of worsening was observed and no patient had digestive bleeding during treatment. Digestive bleeding is a common complication of liver cirrhosis, originating in about 50% of cases from gastro-duodenal mucosal damage. Misoprostol suggests itself as a possible alternative therapy to the drugs usually utilized in these lesions (beta-blockers, H2-inhibitors), but individual intolerance is frequent and must be preliminary excluded.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Medica III, Università degli Studi di Modena.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cioni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cristani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rigo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignoli
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tincani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ventura
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004386:Duodenum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016595:Misoprostol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016595:Misoprostol
vernacular_title: Attività del misoprostol sul danno mucoso gastrico e duodenale in pazienti con cirrosi epatica.