[Endoscopic findings of low-dose aspirin associated ulcers].
Low-dose aspirin (L-ASA) has been increasingly used for primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular events, and has the advantages of both low cost and long duration of antiplatelet action. But, an increment of L-ASA prescription has become an object of public concern for gastrointestinal events through its antiplatelet action and cyclooxygenase inhibitory action. Although knowledge about endoscopic characteristics of L-ASA associated ulcers is limited, the ulcers have common distinctive feature that sudden gastrointestinal bleedings or latently advanced-anemia are often the earliest symptom because aspirin-induced ulcers often exist without symptoms of dyspepsia. Endoscopic characteristics of L-ASA associated ulcers seem to be required further investigation, including the impact of the severity of gastritis and corpus atrophy by Helicobacter pylori infection on the endoscopic characteristics.
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School.
Kazumasa
K
Miyake
Masafumi
M
Kusunoki
Choitsu
C
Sakamoto
D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin