Afterword: Methodological Problems in Detecting the Risk of Drug Reactions

Abstract

The various chapters in this book provide an updated overview of the current body of knowledge about the untoward effects of drugs on the digestive system. As the reader has surely noticed, in some instances the available information seems clear enough, and the number of convincing reports is high, but in other cases reports are anecdotal, and the relationship between drug intake and subsequent phenomena remains uncertain. Thus the chances of assessing the risk of pharmacological adverse effects in a clinical setting are scarce unless a more systematic way of reporting and evaluating drug reactions is employed.