In this study, we investigated the effect of histamin H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) or proton pump inhibitor (PPI) for the prevention of upper gastrointestinal lesions associated with low-dose aspirin. We carried out a retrospective study of 2811 patients who had been prescribed low-dose aspirin (Bayaspirin® 100 mg) for more than 30 days at Tokai University Hachioji Hospital from 2006 to 2008. We classified them into three groups: aspirin alone group (n=1103), aspirin with H2RA group (n=844) and aspirin with PPI group (n=864). Patients who developed upper gastrointestinal lesions were diagnosed with gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, gastritis or duodenitis by gastroscopy. We then compared the incidence of upper gastrointestinal lesions among the groups. The incidence in aspirin alone group, aspirin with H2RA group and aspirin with PPI group was 2.54%, 1.54% and 1.04%, respectively; that of aspirin with PPI group being significantly lower (p<0.05). Additively, the odds ratio (OR) of aspirin with H2RA group and aspirin with PPI group was 0.60 (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.31-1.17) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.19-0.86) as compared with aspirin alone group, respectively. The upper gastrointestinal lesions were developed within two years in all groups. Our results suggest that the combined administration of low-dose aspirin and PPI is effective for the prevention of upper gastrointestinal lesions associated with low-dose aspirin. Also, the pharmacists should be especially careful for upper gastrointestinal lesions development within two years after administration of low-dose aspirin, regardless of combined whether H2RA or PPI.
