Gastroprotective Agents Reduce Ulcer Risk

Patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increase their risk for ulcer complications. Low-dose aspirin usedas a cardioprotective agent also increases the risk for gastrointestinal (GI) complications such as ulcers and bleeding. Patients oncombination therapy (NSAID plus aspirin) are at even greater risk for GI complications.

In a post hoc analysis, reported in Clinical Therapeutics (October 2004), J.L. Goldstein, MD, and colleagues evaluated the gastroprotectiveeffects of misoprostol (200 mcg qid), lansopraxole (15 mg or 30 mg qd), or placebo on the recurrence of gastric ulcerin patients taking concomitant NSAID/aspirin therapy over 12 weeks. Almost all (93%-100%) patients receiving gastroprotective therapyremained ulcer-free during the study. Of 22 patients taking placebo, more than half developed gastric ulcers within 4 weeks;approximately two thirds developed gastric ulcers by the end of the 12-week study. The authors conclude that cotherapy with gastroprotectiveagents can reduce risks for GI complications in patients at high risk for gastric ulcer recurrence.