EFFECT OF A NON-STEROIDAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRUG, NAPROXEN, ON FAECAL MICROBIAL FLORA

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Abstract
Faecal Clostridium perfringens counts have been observed to be elevated in RA patients. The use of NSAIDs has been suggested as being responsible for this increase. To clarify the potential of NSAIDs to change faecal flora, 10 male volunteers were given naproxen 500 mg twice daily for 2 weeks in a randomized, placebo-controlled and double-blind study, and 10 other volunteers were given a placebo in tablets of identical appearance. Stool samples were collected and subjected to direct stool sample gas—liquid chromatography of bacterial fatty acids. The method has proved to be practical and sensitive in detecting overall changes in faecal flora. The samples were also cultured for Cl. perfringens. No significant change of faecal flora was observed by either method. The results show that naproxen given in doses and over a period in excess of the levels reported to increase intestinal permeability, does not change intestinal flora.

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