Published online Jun 14, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i22.3954
Peer-review started: October 28, 2016
First decision: December 19, 2016
Revised: January 19, 2017
Accepted: February 7, 2017
Article in press: February 7, 2017
Published online: June 14, 2017
Processing time: 230 Days and 14.1 Hours
Core tip: Among the gastro-intestinal effects, in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) users, those of the lower tract seem to be rising. NSAIDs enteropathy is due to the enterohepatic recycling of drugs, resulting in a prolonged and repeated exposure of the intestinal mucosa to the compound and its metabolites, leading to so called topical effects. The impairment of the intestinal barrier represents the initial damage of NSAIDs enteropathy that leads to the translocation of bacteria and toxic substances of intestinal origin in the portal circulation, promoting an endotoxaemia. This condition, mostly in patients with risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver diseas, such as obesity and metabolic syndrome, might lead to liver inflammatory response that could promote the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.