A 78-year-old woman presented with an acute abdomen and was found to have a perforation of her terminal ileum. She did not survive the postoperative period and at necropsy was found to have numerous ulcers of the ileum. In the ulcerated areas there was a transmural chronic inflammatory infiltrate, but no evidence of granulomata. We believe that this ulceration was caused by ingestion of Osmosin tablets containing indomethacin and suggest a possible pathogenesis.
Committee on Safety of Medicines. Osmosin (Controlled release indomethacin). Current Problems 1983: 11.
2.
StewartTHMHetenyiCTowsellHOrizagaM.Ulcerative enterocolitis in dogs induced by drugs. J Pathol1980; 131: 363–378.
3.
DayTK. Intestinal perforation associated with osmotic slow release indomethacin capsules. Br Med J1983; 287: 1671–1672.
4.
BakerDRSchraderWHHitchcockCR. Small bowel ulceration apparently associated with thiazide and potassium therapy. JAMA1964; 190: 586–590.
5.
RainsfordKD. The effects of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory/analgesic drugs on gastro-intestinal mucus glycoprotein biosynthesis in vivo: relationship to ulcerogenic actions. Biochem Pharmacol1978; 27: 877–885.