Cytoprotection by sucralfate in acid-exposed esophagus: a review.

Sucralfate is protective against acid or acid-pepsin injury to rabbit and cat esophagus. Its beneficial action is due in part to enhanced mucosal defense (cytoprotection) since it can occur in the absence of luminal buffering of hydrogen ion. The limited prospect for this effect to be prostaglandin-mediated is discussed and candidate mechanisms for its action enumerated.