Frequency of gastroduodenal lesions in asymptomatic patients on chronic aspirin or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy.

Endoscopy in 49 patients without upper gastrointestinal symptoms and who were receiving chronic aspirin or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug therapy showed the frequency of gastric and duodenal mucosal lesions to be 76 and 27%, respectively. Fifteen (31%) had gastric ulcers, 31 (63%) had gastric erosions, and 10 (20%) had gastric mucosal hemorrhages. Gastric mucosal lesions were noted in 9 (90%) patients taking plain aspirin, in 25 (74%) receiving nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, and in 3 (60%) patients taking enteric-coated aspirin. Duodenal lesions were noted in 30 and 26% of patients taking plain aspirin and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, respectively. Patients taking enteric-coated aspirin had less severe duodenal injury than patients receiving ibuprofen or indomethacin, but the difference was not statistically significant. Endoscopy in 20 normal subjects not taking aspirin or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs showed no gastroduodenal ulcers, erosions, or hemorrhage. Patients chronically taking antiarthritic drugs, including enteric-coated aspirin, have a high frequency of asymptomatic gastroduodenal lesions.