ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on non-gastrointestinal adverse effects, which occur with less frequency than gastrointestinal toxicity but which are no less distressing to the patient and often confounding to the physician. Cutaneous reactions to ibuprofen appear to be common complaints and range from nonspecific rashes to urticaria and pruritus, often as a component of a generalized hypersensitivity reaction. Data from the Arthritis, Rheumatism and Aging Medical Information System that monitors events in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis in the United States and Canada gives the incidence of nonspecific rash with ibuprofen as 10 events per 1000 patient-years. The few epidemiology studies of Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs -associated adverse skin events have studied cases hospitalized for the target event. Clinical trials that employ routine monitoring of liver function have the highest likelihood of ascertainment of any liver function abnormalities and have the considerable advantage of standard measures in defined time periods.
