Comparison of the ulcerogenic properties of tepoxalin with those of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The ability of tepoxalin to render the gastric mucosa susceptible to injury by a topically applied irritant was compared to that of indomethacin, naproxen and diclofenac. While the three NSAIDs significantly increased the extent of mucosal damage at doses in the 1-30 mg/kg range, tepoxalin failed to significantly augment damage at doses of up to 300 mg/kg. Daily treatment with tepoxalin (10-100 mg/kg) for 4 days also did not significantly affect the susceptibility of the gastric mucosa to damage. The absence of ulcerogenic properties of tepoxalin at doses previously shown to be anti-inflammatory may be related to its relative lack of activity as an inhibitor of gastric prostaglandin synthesis, or to its 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activity.