Preventive effect of ecabet sodium on low-dose aspirin-induced small intestinal mucosal injury: A randomized, double-blind, pilot study

Abstract

Background: We aimed to investigate how high-dose ecabet sodium affects low-dose aspirin-induced small intestinal mucosal injury in healthy volunteers. Methods: Healthy volunteers were enrolled randomly into one of two groups with the following drug regimens for 2 weeks: group A, low-dose aspirin once per day and group B, low-dose aspirin and 4.0 g of ecabet sodium. Small bowel capsule endoscopy was performed before and 2 weeks after low-dose aspirin administration. Results: A significant difference was found in the median number [range] of small intestinal lesions between baseline and two weeks after low-dose aspirin administration in group A (baseline: 1 [0-5], after: 5 [1-11]; p = 0.0059) but not in group B (baseline: 0.5 [0-9], after: 3 [0-23]; p = 0.0586). In group B, although the median number [range] of lesions in the first tertile of the small intestine did not increase two weeks after low-dose aspirin administration (baseline: 0 [0-4], after: 1.5 [0-8]; p = 0.2969), the number of lesions in the second and third tertiles of the small intestine increased significantly (baseline: 0 [0-5], after: 2 [0-15]; p = 0.0469). Conclusions: Ecabet sodium had a preventive effect on low-dose aspirin-induced small intestinal mucosal injury in the upper part of the small intestine. Trial registration: ISRCTN 99322160, 01/10/2018.