title: Effect of Low-dose, Enteric Coated Aspirin on Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to determine whether low-dose aspirin and/or clopidogrel can induce gastrointestinal bleeding and gastroduodenal mucosal injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 387 patients who underwent coronary angiography at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital were assigned to one of three antiplatelet treatment groups: (1) control, (2) 100-mg enteric coated aspirin, and (3) 100-mg enteric coated aspirin plus clopidogrel. The incidences of gastroduodenal mucosal injury and gastrointestinal bleeding were prospectively evaluated, and risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  for gastrointestinal bleeding were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of gastroduodenal mucosal injury was higher in the aspirin-plus-clopidogrel group than in the aspirin group (p=0.012), and higher in the aspirin group than in the control group (p=0.049). The rate of gastrointestinal bleeding was significantly higher in the aspirin-plus-clopidogrel group (9.4%) than in the control group (2.4%, p=0.048). The risk factors for gastrointestinal bleeding were older age (>/=60 years) and the presence of at least two comorbid disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose enteric coated aspirin was found to be safe in patients with coronary artery disease, but the addition of clopidogrel increased the rate of gastrointestinal bleeding. Combined clopidogrel and aspirin should be used with caution in older patients having at least two comorbid conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Kyu
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Nayoung
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Young Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin-Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook-Hyang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Dong Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Tae-Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Woo-Young
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: In-Ho
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Dong-Ju
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Choi