To estimate the frequency of documented clinically significant gastrointestinal (GI) side effects secondary to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) therapy and to describe the adverse events.
Computerized medical records of 702 patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) administered NSAID were searched for the occurrence of clinically significant gastropathy (esophagitis, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease).
Five children were identified who had a total of 10 events of gastropathy documented by either barium swallow or endoscopy, and thought to be attributable to NSAID therapy. Each child had at least 2 separate events of clinically significant gastropathy.
Although mild GI disturbances are frequent side effects associated with NSAID therapy, the number of children with JRA who experience clinically significant gastropathy appears to be low.