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Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been associated with increased risk for bleeding peptic ulcers in large population-based studies. One suggested mechanism for this association is the inhibition of platelets by SSRIs, resulting in bleeding from preexisting ulcers. However, the possibility that these drugs could directly cause ulcers has not yet been explored.
To investigate this issue, researchers conducted a case-control study in a county in Denmark, using population-based data to select 4862 patients with a diagnosis of an uncomplicated peptic ulcer and 19,448 controls matched by age and gender. They collected data on current, recent, and past exposure to SSRIs, as well as potential confounding factors.
Patients had a 50%…