Quantitative assessment of gastrointestinal blood loss with anti-inflammatory drugs

A comparative study of gastrointestinal blood loss caused by aspirin, flurbiprofen and RH-8 was carried out in 24 normal volunteers in whom erythrocytes were labelled with radioactive chromium i.e. Cr51. Blood loss was estimated by counting radio-activity in vitro taking total amount of faeces. The method used was independent of distribution of radio-activity in the faeces, which does not require homogenization. Significant increase in blood loss occurred with aspirin, flurbiprofen and RH-8; only the difference between RH-8 and flurbiprofen group is significant. (auth.)