Aim: To investigate incidence and recurrence rate of endoscopic ulcers in patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) taking NSAID in respect to factors of NSAID gastropathy risk.
Material and methods: Endoscopic findings in the gastrointestinal tract were analysed for 6103 patients (age 50.1 +/- 14.6 years, 83.1% females) with RD taking NSAID regularly, 1642 of them took also glucocorticoids (GC). Control RD patients (n = 504) matched by age and sex took no NSAID, GC and low dose aspirin a month and more before the trial.
Results: Gastric or duodenal ulcers were detected in 763 (12.5%) RD patients treated with NSAID, in 20 (4.0%) in the control group, p < 0.0001. Ulcers were more frequent in older patients (65 years of age and older) with ulcer history treated with nonselective NSAID in combination with low aspirin doses (15.1 and 12.0, p < 0.05; 27.3 and 9.7%, p < 0.001; 13.1 and 9.8%, p < 0.001; 19.1 and 12.2%, p < 0.001; respectively). No significant difference in ulcer occurrence was observed in patients given NSAID+GC and NSAID only (11.3 and 12.9%, respectively; p = 0.041). The recurrence rate was assessed in 407 patients with NSAID-induced ulcer 12 months later. Control consisted of 1640 patients having no ulcer, multiple erosions after 12 months of regular intake of NSAID. Ulcer recurrence rose in 163 of 407 patients (40%) while only in 107 f 1640 controls (6.5%, p < 0.0001). Old age and GC administration had no impact on the recurrence rate. Recurrences were less frequent in patients taking nonselective NSAID than those taking nonselective ones (23.4 and 46.5%, respectively; p < 0.001) and in patients treated with NSAID in combination with proton pump inhibitors (24.6 and 42.6%, respectively; p < 0.001). Prophylactic intake of H-2 blockers did not reduce recurrence rate.
Conclusion: Old age, ulcer history and intake of nonselective NSAID increased the risk of endoscopic GI ulcer. Combined use of NSAID and GC did not increase the risk of ulcer development or recurrence. In a year or later of NSAID continuation recurerences arose in 40% patients with NSAID-induced ulcers. Recurrence risk was reduced by selective NSAID and proton pump inhibitors.