Management and outcome of peptic ulcers or erosions in patients receiving a combination of aspirin plus clopidogrel.

Background: This multicenter retrospective study investigated the management and outcome of patients with peptic ulcer/erosion-related aspirin and clopidogrel (A + C) cotherapy.

Methods: From January 2002 to September 2006, patients with endoscopically proven peptic ulcers/erosions after receiving A + C cotherapy were analyzed.

Results: This group consisted of 106 patients (age, 69.3 +/- 11.7 years). Ulcers/erosions developed in 27 patients during hospitalization for cardiac events and in 79 patients after hospital discharge. Of 27 patients hospitalized for acute cardiac events, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and dyspepsia occurred in 24 and three, respectively. The most common lesion was gastric ulcer. Of 79 discharged patients, GI bleeding and dyspepsia occurred in 64 and 15, respectively. The most common bleeding and dyspeptic lesions were gastric ulcer and gastritis, respectively. Overall, 17 patients underwent endoscopic hemostasis all successfully. A + C cotherapy was continued in 57 patients for a median (interquartile range) of 3.0 (6.2) months. Most were coprescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) (53, 93%). No recurrent GI bleeding was observed.

Conclusions: After A + C cotherapy, gastric ulcer or gastritis were the most common endoscopic lesions. The combination of a PPI and endoscopic treatment for ulcer bleeding was highly successful. After patient stabilization, continuation of A + C cotherapy with a PPI appears to be safe.