[Effect of non-steroid anti-inflammatory and glucocorticoid agents on development of gastrointestinal lesions in patients with rheumatic diseases]. / Vliianie nesteroidnykh protivovospalitel'nykh i gliukokortikoidnykh preparatov na razvitie porazhenii pishchevaritel'nogo kanala u bol'nykh s revmatologicheskimi zabolevaniiami.

ABSTRACT

A comparative evaluation was done of frequency and severity of upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions in patients taking nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID) and glucocorticosteroids (GCS). A total of 65 rheumatic patients examined endoscopically entered the study. The patients were divided into three groups. Group I comprised 12 patients placed on GCS only, group II was 35 patients on NSAID, group III was 18 patients who received NSAID plus GCS. Gastropathies were diagnosed in 25%, 45.7%, 44.4% of patients in groups I, II, and III respectively. Group II patients had a higher incidence of serious afflictions. As far as the gastrointestinal mucosa is concerned, GCS have been shown to be superior to NSAID. A combined use of NSAID + GCS, unlike NSAID alone, has not been found to increase the risk of development of gastropathy.