Dimethyl-prostaglandin E₂ prevents stress ulceration with minimal complications

Gastric mucosal damage produced by topical application of necrotizing agents is diminished by topical or systemic pretreatment with a variety of E and F prostaglandins. The rat restraint model of gastric mucosal injury is more analogous to clinical stress ulceration than are models using intragastric application of toxic solutions; however, previous use of prostaglandin E₁ in the restraint model resulted in a prohibitive incidence of GI morbidity. The current study used the restraint model of stress ulceration to compare the effects of a more potent prostaglandin analogue, 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E₂, with hyperosmolar glucose and antacids. All three agents afforded significant protection from grossly apparent mucosal lesions, alone and in combination. Although other physiologic effects of each agent differed, the only effect which correlated with prevention of mucosal lesions was suppression of gastric acidity. Since effective doses of cytoprotective prostaglandins did not produce notable morbidity in comparison with other agents, they may prove to be a useful adjunct to stress ulcer prophylaxis in clinical settings.