The Influence of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs on Clinical Outcome in Patients with Bleeding Peptic Ulcers / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We conducted this study to find the clinical characteristics of ulcer bleeding that occurred in patients who had been taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to evaluate the influences of NSAIDs on clinical outcomes. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2002, a total of 310 patients with ulcer bleeding were analyzed. Study group composed of 49 patients who had taken NSAIDs regularly for at least 4 weeks before the admission. Other 261 patients who had not taken NSAIDs were classified as control group. Relevant informations were obtained from the medical records. RESULTS: Of the NSAIDs group, aspirin was the most common medication. The mean age and the proportion of females in the NSAIDs group were significantly higher than those of the control group. Prevalence of co-morbid illness was significantly higher in the NSAIDs group than in the control group (85.7% vs 30.7%, p<0.001). The severity of bleeding which was assessed by hemoglobin level at presentation, amount of transfusion, and duration of admission, was not different between two groups. There were no significant differences in frequency of re-bleeding, urgent surgery, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Ulcer bleeding among patients taking NSAIDs occurred more frequently in older females with co- morbid illness. However, NSAIDs is not associated with higher morbidity and mortality.

Has Any Improvement been Made in the Clinical Outcome of Patients with Bleeding Peptic Ulcer in the Part 10 Years? / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Bleeding still remains as one of the major medical problems in peptic ulcer diseases, despite of the advances in therapeutic options and endoscopic therapy. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of bleeding peptic ulcer between two distinct periods in the past ten years. METHODS: We divided the among 10 years, we selected the two distinct periods; the first (1993~1995) and the second (2000~2002). The clinical and endoscopic characteristics in patients with bleeding peptic ulcer were compared between the two periods. We also analyzed the changes in the clinical outcomes as well. RESULTS: The age of patients during the second period was significantly older compare to the first period. In subgroup analysis, proportions of patients older than 60 years and of female patients were significantly higher in the second period. The percentage of the patients with co-morbid illness, such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, or users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, was higher in the second period. Despite the decreasing the frequency of urgent surgery in the second period, there was no significant difference in the rate of re-bleeding and mortality between both periods. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the advances in therapeutic options in the second period, no significant difference was found in the prognosis of bleeding ulcer, compared to the first period. Old age, co-morbid illness, and increasing usage of NSAIDs has may contributed to this. Taken together, it might be more important to apply preventive measures to the patients who have risk factors for bleeding peptic ulcer.

A Case of Ischemic Colitis Mimicking Malignancy / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Ischemic colitis is the most common vascular disorder of intestines, and usually affects older patients. Many predisposing conditions have been implicated in the pathogenesis of colonic ischemia, although many occurrences are spontaneous in nature. Ischemic colitis can induce a wide spectrum of radiological or endoscopic features, depending on the site, extend, and timing of its onset. The coexistence of colonic ischemia with carcinoma of large bowel is well documented. However It is less well recognized that a localized segment of ischemic colon can mimic a carcinoma. Here, we report a case of ischemic colitis mimicking colon cancer in a 66 year-old man.