NSAIDs, Antiplatelet Drugs, and Risk for Lower GI Bleeding

NSAIDs are associated with LGIB, as is the combined use of antiplatelet drugs and low-dose aspirin.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antiplatelet agents increase risk for upper gastrointestinal bleeding, but do they also increase risk for lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB)?

To find out, investigators in Japan conducted a single-center, case-control study in which drug use and clinical data were collected from 319 patients with colonoscopy-documented LGIB and 3358 colonoscopy recipients without bleeding.

Results were as follows:

Nonselective NSAIDs and COX-2 inhibitors were associated with LGIB (adjusted odds ratio, 2.3 and 2.8, respectively).
Low-dose aspirin, thienopyridine, and other antiplatelet drugs used alone were not significantly associated with LGIB.
NSAIDs with low-dose aspirin or other antiplatelet drugs were as…

Reviewing Author

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

David J. Bjorkman, MD, MSPH (HSA), SM (Epid.)

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

NSAIDs, Antiplatelet Drugs, and Risk for Lower GI Bleeding

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Reviewing Author