[Treatment of gastrointestinal hemorrhage manifestation induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents]]

Abstract

Introduction: The risk of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in the patients taking NSAID estimates 1% per year. Bleeding stops spontaneously in approximately 80% of all cases. Persistent and repeated bleeding (expecialy during the initial hospitalization) still represent the serious clinical problem. In this group of patients, mortality rate is between 6-10%, which in the USA counts 10-20000 patients per year.

Aim of the study: The purpose of this review is to update the current knowledge of the use of different therapeutic strategies in patients with NSAID induced upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Results: Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) therapy is effective as a prevention of NSAID induced acidopeptic lesions, and also represents the first and best therapeutic option for the treatment of complications, such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding. In the last three decades use of early flexibile (diagnostic and therapeutic) endoscopy, agressive acidosupression (PPIs), and surgical treatment in restrictive indications, resulted in decreasing of the mortality rates from 25-35% to 6-10%. When PPIs and flexible endoscopy are not sufficient in the control of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, use of systemic hemostatic drugs could be taken into consideration.

Conclusion: Multidisciplinary approach, precise diagnostic and therapeutic critearia would probably result in better outcome of patients with active upper gastrointestinal bleeding.