A comparative evaluation of the frequency and severity of upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions in patients taking nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and glucocorticosteroids (GCS).
The trial entered 1086 rheumatic patients examined endoscopically. To compare the effects of their medicines, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 726 patients on NSAID alone (group 1); 238 patients on NSAID and GCS (group 2); 122 patients on GCS only (group 3).
Gastropathies were diagnosed in 38.2, 32.4, 12.5% of group 1, 2 and 3 patients, respectively (the difference is significant). More serious diseases prevailed in group 1: multiple erosions and gastroduodenal ulcers. Group 2 and 3 patients had erosions only.
GCS are safer for gastrointestinal mucosa than NSAID. Combination of NSAID with GCS does not increase the risk of gastropathy onset compared to NSAID alone.