title: Treatment and prevention of aspirin-induced gastroduodenal ulcers and gastrointestinal bleeding.
abstract: Aspirin use is associated with gastroduodenal mucosal damage and increased risk of upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Many aspirin users should receive prophylactic treatment since they often have several risk factors for upper GI complications. The best therapeutic approach for reducing GI toxicity in low-dose aspirin users is still ill-defined as only a few studies have focused on this problem. Omeprazole appears to be very effective in reducing both acute gastroduodenal mucosal damage and upper GI bleeding in the high-risk patient taking low-dose aspirin, but data with other anti-ulcer agents are lacking (misoprostol) or inconsistent (ranitidine) at present. The role of Helicobacter pylori is controversial in NSAID users, but there is now wide agreement that H. pylori infection increases mucosal damage and the risk of upper GI bleeding in low-dose aspirin users.
authors.affiliation: Service of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, Spain. alanas@postaunizar.es
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lanas
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrández
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole; D001241:Aspirin