Effects of Topical Steroids and Non‐Steroidal Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs on Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Rats

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.