Effect of antisecretory drugs and nitrates on the risk of ulcer bleeding associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiplatelet agents, and anticoagulants.
OBJECTIVE
After the withdrawal of some cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective inhibitors, traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use has increased, but without additional prevention strategies against upper gastrointestinal (GI) complications in many cases. Here, we report the effect of antisecretory drugs and nitrates on the risk of upper GI peptic ulcer bleeding (UGIB) associated with nonselective NSAIDs, aspirin, antiplatelet agents, and anticoagulants.


METHODS
This case-control study matched 2,777 consecutive patients with UGIB (confirmed by endoscopy) with 5,532 controls (2:1). Adjusted relative risks (RR) of UGIB are reported.


RESULTS
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (RR 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27-0.39), H2-receptor antagonists (H2-RAs) (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.85), and nitrates (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.38-0.70) reduced UGIB risk. PPI use was associated with greater reductions among both traditional NSAID (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.09-0.19 vs RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.17-0.53 with H2-RAs; RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.19-1.24 with nitrates) and low-dose aspirin users (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.22-0.51 vs RR 0.40, 95% CI 0.19-0.73 with H2-RA; RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.36-1.04 with nitrates), and among patients taking clopidogrel (RR 0.19, 95% CI 0.07-0.49). For patients taking anticoagulants, use of nitrates, H2-RA, or PPIs was not associated with a significant effect on UGIB risk.


CONCLUSIONS
Antisecretory agent or nitrate treatment is associated with reduced UGIB RR in patients taking NSAID or aspirin. Only PPI therapy was associated with a marked, consistent risk reduction among patients receiving all types of agents (including nonaspirin antiplatelet agents). Protection was not apparent in patients taking anticoagulants.
Lanas
Angel
A
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Clínico Zaragoza, Ciber Hepad, Zaragoza, Spain.
García-Rodríguez
Luis A
LA
Arroyo
Maria T
MT
Bujanda
Luis
L
Gomollón
Fernando
F
Forné
Montserrat
M
Aleman
Sofía
S
Nicolas
David
D
Feu
Faust
F
González-Pérez
Antonio
A
Borda
Ana
A
Castro
Manuel
M
Poveda
Maria Jose
MJ
Arenas
Juan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000925:Anticoagulants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009566:Nitrates; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D017494:Proton Pumps