title: Critical appraisal of a fixed combination of esomeprazole and low dose aspirin in risk reduction.
abstract: Low dose aspirin (</=325 mg) is routinely used for primary and secondary prophylaxis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The use of low dose aspirin is associated with two- to four-fold greater risk of symptomatic or complicated peptic ulcers. Risk factors associated with low dose aspirin induced gastrointestinal toxicity includes prior history of ulcer or upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, concomitant use of other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid or warfarin, dual antiplatelet therapy, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, and advanced age. Esomeprazole, like other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is very effective in decreasing the risk of aspirin induced gastrointestinal toxicity. Although evidence to support esomeprazole or other PPIs for primary prophylaxis in aspirin induced gastrointestinal toxicity is limited, its role in secondary prophylaxis is well established.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0341, USA;
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vachhani
authors.forename: Doumit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bouhaidar
authors.forename: Alvin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zfass
authors.forename: Bimaljit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sandhu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nawras