Gastrointestinal Damage Associated with the Use of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs

PATIENTS who take nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have an increased risk of mucosal damage in the upper gastrointestinal tract. 1 The development of new lesions weeks after the initiation of treatment with NSAIDs has been confirmed in a prospective study, 2 and the risk of gastric and duodenal ulcers increases with the dose of NSAID. 3 Other epidemiologic studies have shown a link between the use of NSAIDs and serious complications of peptic ulcer disease. 4 5 6 7 Evidence that NSAIDs may cause perforation and hemorrhage of the small intestine comes from a case–control study 8 and several case reports. 9 10 11 12 These drugs also have been implicated in . . .