Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the potential systemic gastrointestinal (GI) effects of short-term topical administration of ocular steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in rats. ANIMALS: A total of 56 adult male Wistar rats were assigned to seven treatment groups (n = 8 for each group), receiving topical applications of saline, prednisolone acetate, dexamethasone phosphate, loteprednol etabonate, ketorolac tromethamine, nepafenac or diclofenac sodium for 1 week. METHODS: GI bleeding was assessed using faecal occult blood tests, gastric and duodenal tissues were analysed histopathologically, and endoscopic evaluations were performed. RESULTS: Positive faecal occult blood results were observed in the prednisolone acetate group (3/8; 37.5%), dexamethasone phosphate (2/8; 25%), diclofenac sodium (1/8; 12.5%) and loteprednol etabonate (1/8; 12.5%). No positive results were recorded in the ketorolac tromethamine, nepafenac, or saline groups (0%). Differences between groups were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). No significant within-group differences between baseline and post-treatment results were detected (p > 0.05). Endoscopic scores ranged from 0 to 1 across all groups, and histopathology revealed no abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Short-term topical ocular steroid and NSAID treatments were not associated with statistically significant systemic gastrointestinal alterations under the conditions of this study.