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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with an increased risk for clinically significant upper gastrointestinal (UGI) events, including bleeding and symptomatic ulcers. Drugs (i.e., coxibs) that predominantly inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, rather than COX-1, appear to be associated with fewer UGI events. Results from in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that etodolac selectively inhibits COX-2 to a similar degree as coxibs. To date, no studies have compared the risk for UGI events in patients taking etodolac with that of those taking nonselective NSAIDs.
In a 3-year retrospective cohort study, investigators analyzed data from the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center to determine the rate of clinically significant UGI…