Overt gastrointestinal bleeding in the course of chronic low-dose aspirin administration for secondary prevention of arterial occlusive disease.
We describe 13 patients who developed erosive gastritis with overt gastrointestinal bleeding while receiving 75-250 mg nonbuffered aspirin per day for the secondary prevention of cardiac or cerebrovascular events. The bleeding occurred despite good initial tolerance to aspirin for several months or years. All patients were elderly and had severe atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Our data suggest that, contrary to common belief, very low doses of nonbuffered aspirin are attendant with clinically apparent gastrointestinal complications.
Naschitz
J E
JE
Department of Medicine A, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
Yeshurun
D
D
Odeh
M
M
Bassan
H
H
Rosner
I
I
Stermer
E
E
Levy
N
N
D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
D001241:Aspirin