NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS AND VARICEAL BLEEDING - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Background/Aim: The aim of this case-control study was to assess the r isk of bleeding from esophageal varices associated with aspirin and no n-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption. Methods: Between Janua ry 1992 and May 1994, patients admitted for bleeding from esophageal o r gastric lesions related to portal hypertension were matched with a c ontrol patient of the same age and sex, who was free of gastrointestin al bleeding, A structured interview was conducted with the cases and c ontrols to determine drug consumption during the 2 weeks preceding adm ission, Fifty-nine cases and 59 controls were recruited. Results/Concl usions: Use of aspirin was more prevalent among the cases than the con trols (odds ratio 3.81; 95% confidence interval 1.36-11.64; p=0.004). This difference remained significant in the subgroups of patients with a first episode of variceal bleeding (odds ratio 3.9; 95% confidence interval 1.2-13.9, p=0.01), but was not significant in the subgroups o f patients with a recurrent episode of variceal bleeding, The use of a spirin was associated with a high risk of a first episode of variceal bleeding, suggesting that patients with portal hypertension should avo id taking these drugs.