Effectiveness of acid suppressants and other mucoprotective agents in reducing the risk of occult gastrointestinal bleeding in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug users

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 12;9(1):11696. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48173-6.

Abstract

Acid suppressants such as histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective in preventing gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) users. Despite widespread acid suppressant use, there remain concerns about several potential risks of long-term use. Therefore, we investigated whether gastroprotective agents (GPAs) other than acid suppression therapy are effective in preventing NSAID-related GI injury. To this end, we studied 9,133 patients with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis who used NSAIDs for ≥1 month. A decrease of 2 g/dL or more in the hemoglobin level was considered a GI injury indicator. The GPAs included acid suppressants and other mucoprotective agents. Acid suppressants included PPIs and H2RAs. Other mucoprotective agents included misoprostol, rebamipide, and eupatilin. During a median follow-up period of 27 (range, 4.3-51.3) weeks, occult GI bleeding occurred in 1,191 (13%) patients. A comparison of patients who used GPAs concomitantly with that of nonusers in a multivariable analysis revealed the hazard ratios (HRs; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for occult GI bleeding were 0.30 (0.20-0.44), 0.35 (0.29-0.43), 0.47 (0.23-0.95), 0.43 (0.35-0.51), and 0.98 (0.86-1.12) for PPIs, H2RAs, misoprostol, rebamipide, and eupatilin, respectively. Compared to PPI co-treatment, H2RA, misoprostol, rebamipide, and eupatilin co-treatments were associated with occult GI bleeding HRs (95% CIs) of 1.19 (0.79-1.79), 1.58 (0.72-3.46), 1.44 (0.96-2.16), and 3.25 (2.21-4.77), respectively. Our findings suggest that mucoprotective agents, such as rebamipide and misoprostol, as well as acid suppressants, are effective in reducing the risk for GI injury in NSAID users.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Alanine / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / metabolism
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / physiopathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Flavonoids / therapeutic use*
  • Gastrointestinal Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / physiopathology
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / prevention & control*
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Misoprostol / therapeutic use*
  • Osteoarthritis / drug therapy
  • Osteoarthritis / metabolism
  • Osteoarthritis / physiopathology
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors / administration & dosage
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Quinolones / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Flavonoids
  • Gastrointestinal Agents
  • Hemoglobins
  • Histamine H2 Antagonists
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors
  • Quinolones
  • Misoprostol
  • eupatilin
  • rebamipide
  • Alanine