Small intestinal injury in NSAID users suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

ABSTRACT

The goal of this prospective study was to assess non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced enteropathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) by means of non-invasive wireless capsule enteroscopy. A total of 143 patients (74 with RA, 69 with OA) treated with NSAIDs (>1 month) and 42 healthy volunteers were included. All subjects underwent capsule endoscopy, laboratory tests and filled in questionnaires. The severity of small bowel injury was graded as mild (red spots or sporadic erosions), moderate (10-20 erosions) or severe (>20 erosions or ulcers). Capsule endoscopy identified small bowel lesions in 44.8 % of patients (mild 36.4 %, moderate 3.5 % and severe in 4.9 %). Mild non-specific lesions were found in 11.9 % healthy volunteers. There was a significantly higher prevalence of enteropathy in RA (56.8 %) compared to OA (31.9 %, p < 0.01). A significant difference between NSAID users (RA and OA) with and without enteropathy was observed in erythrocytes (p < 0.01), the leucocyte count (p < 0.05), haemoglobin (p < 0.05), haematocrit (p < 0.05), serum albumin (p < 0.01) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p < 0.05). No relationship was found between enteropathy and dyspepsia, gender or age. NSAID therapy is associated with a significant risk of small bowel injury. The risk is significantly higher in RA patients suggesting a possible influence of the underlying disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00004940.