[Gastrointestinal damage in osteoarthritis patients]

Seventy-seven patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee, with clinical indication for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were studied. However, no patient was submitted to any anti-inflammatory medication seven days, prior the beginning of the study and did not complain of any gastrointestinal disease. Shortly before starting the anti-inflammatory drug therapy all patients were submitted to gastroduodenal endoscopy. This diagnostic procedure revealed that 54.6% of the patients presented at least one gastroduodenal damage, 22.1%, hyperemia, 3.9%, petechias, 23.4%, erosions and 5.2%, peptic ulcers. There results permitted to conclude that to identify and/or exclude damage of the gastrointestinal tract, data obtained in the anamnese are not sufficient. For these patients the endoscopic examination is a need. Anti-inflammatory therapy must be careful associated with dietetic orientation and the prescription of drugs to protect the gastrointestinal mucosa.