Prevalence of gastroduodenal mucosal injury in asymptomatic patients taking antiplatelet agents in Japan

PURPOSE: There is little knowledge regarding the prevalence of mucosal injury (MI) in Japanese patients receiving antiplatelet therapy. This study estimated the prevalence of gastroduodenal MI in asymptomatic Japanese patients taking antiplatelet agents and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). METHODS: Among patients who underwent an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at Teikyo University Hospital (Tokyo, Japan), 382 asymptomatic patients taking either low-dose aspirin, ticlopidine, cilostazol, or other NSAIDs and 119 people not taking any of these agents were included. Endoscopic records were evaluated for the presence of MI. RESULTS: Aspirin and NSAIDs users showed a higher prevalence of MI than controls (Aspirin, OR = 2.6 (95% CI = 1.4 - 4.9), NSAIDs, 2.9 (1.4 - 4.4)). Concomitant use of aspirin and NSAIDs increased the prevalence of MI (11.2 (2.8 - 44.8)). Ticlopidine and cilostazol were less likely to cause injury than aspirin and other NSAIDs, the difference remained insignificant due to small sample number (ticlopidine, 0.8 (0.2 - 4.0), cilostazol, 1.3 (0.3 - 4.8)). CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic Japanese patients receiving low-dose aspirin, the prevalence of the gastroduodenal MI was the same as that in patients taking NSAIDs and higher than that in controls.