To compare occurrence of upper gastrointestinal tract (UGT) cancer in rheumatic patients taking long courses of nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAD) and in non-rheumatic patients who have not received NSAD.
The study group of 1271 rheumatic patients on NSAD for at least 12 months. Control group of 654 patients free of rheumatic diseases and having no history of regular NSAD intake. The groups did not differ by the mean age, erosion and ulcer incidence.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy detected and histology confirmed adenocarcinoma in 2 patients of the study and 10 patients of the control group (0.16 and 1.5%, respectively, p < 0.001).
Long-term treatment with NSAD lowers the risk of UGT tumors.