NSAID-induced ulcers and prophylaxis. A reappraisal.

The most common side effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy involves gastrointestinal damage that may involve hemorrhages and petechiae to erosions and ulcers. The NSAID usage increases the risk for ulcer complications such as bleeding and perforation. While prophylaxis against NSAID-induced ulcers is an appealing clinical strategy, the studies to date concerning its effectiveness have been flawed by uneven experimental and statistical design. Important questions concerning management of NSAID-induced ulceration have yet to be answered.