Sucralfate, a new
drug for
peptic ulcer disease, is a sulfated
disaccharide, basic
aluminium sucrose sulfate complex. Its development is the result of a lot studies on sulfated
polysaccharides, well-known for their antipeptic activities and also, for their
anticoagulant activities.
Sucralfate is free from toxicity, including
anticoagulant activity like all the
disaccharides and is an antiulcer agent better than other drugs of its chemical family.
Sucralfate is characterized by the following properties: When exposed to gastric acid, it turns into a viscous and adhesive substance which binds selectively and durably to the lesions of gastric and duodenal mucosa. The affinity of
sucralfate for defective mucosa is explained by the formation of electrostatic bindings between the negatively charged
sucralfate polyanions and the positively charged
proteins exuding from lesions. Barrier effect to the penetration of
acid,
pepsin and
bile salts. Interference with binding of the
pepsin with the lesions. Adsorption of
pepsin and
bile salts. Protection of normal mucosa weakness of the reaction with
acid. Possibility of stimulation of synthesis of local
prostaglandins.
Sucralfate is slightly absorbed by the digestive mucosa. That explains the absence of systemic effects and of toxicity. The pharmacodynamic effects corroborated by good therapeutical results make
sucralfate an original antiulcer
drug which leads a new way in the treatment of peptic disease.