Proton-Pump Inhibitors Reduce NSAID-Associated Ulcers in Japan

Studies have demonstrated that proton-pump inhibitor treatment can reduce the incidence of both endoscopic ulcers and upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Such investigations have been conducted primarily in Western populations, however, and few data are available on patients in Japan. In a recent multicenter, double-blind trial sponsored by the manufacturer of esomeprazole, researchers examined the efficacy and safety of this approach in Japanese patients.

The study involved adults with a history of peptic ulcer disease who required daily long-term NSAID therapy for a chronic inflammatory condition. In all, 343 such patients were randomized to receive esomeprazole (20 mg daily) or…