A comparison of the gastroduodenal tolerance of ticlopidine and acetylsalicylic acid

Changes in the gastroduodenal mucosa caused by 250 mg ticlopidine twice daily (group 1; n = 12) or 300 mg aspirin daily (group 2; n = 12) were compared in a randomized double-blind trial of 24 healthy men, aged 20 to 35 years. An oesophago-gastroduodenoscopy was performed before and after either drug had been taken for 7 days. Results were tabulated according to a uniform scoring system (normal mucosa, erythema, petechiae, erosions, ulcer, and blood in the lumen). Both groups had identical scores at the start of the trial (group 1: 0.9 +/- 0.1; group 2: 0.8 +/- 0.1). After the seven days, the score in group 2 had risen to 9.7 +/- 1.5 (median 9.0), while it had hardly changed in group 1 (1.7 +/- 0.5; median 1.0), a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The data indicate that ticlopidine is better tolerated by the gastroduodenal mucosa than low dosage aspirin.