s-1743 and Intestinal-Perforation

Little is known about the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors compared with H(2) receptor antagonists in preventing adverse upper gastrointestinal complications in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving aspirin, clopidogrel, and enoxaparin or thrombolytics. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacies of esomeprazole and famotidine in preventing gastrointestinal complications.. A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial was performed in patients receiving a combination of aspirin, clopidogrel, and either enoxaparin or thrombolytics. Patients received either esomeprazole (20 mg nocte) or famotidine (40 mg nocte) orally for 4-52 weeks, depending on the duration of dual antiplatelet therapy. The primary end point was upper gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB), perforation, or obstruction from ulcer/erosion (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00683111).. In all, 311 patients were recruited, with 163 and 148 patients in the esomeprazole and famotidine groups, respectively. Mean (s.d.) follow-up was 19.2 (17.6) and 17.6 (18.0) weeks, respectively. One (0.6%) patient in the esomeprazole group and 9 (6.1%) in the famotidine group reached the primary end point (log-rank test, P=0.0052, hazard ratio=0.095, 95% confidence interval: 0.005-0.504); all had upper GIB.. In patients with ACS or STEMI, esomeprazole is superior to famotidine in preventing upper gastrointestinal complications related to aspirin, clopidogrel, and enoxaparin or thrombolytics.

Topics: Acute Coronary Syndrome; Aged; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Aspirin; Chi-Square Distribution; Clopidogrel; Double-Blind Method; Drug Therapy, Combination; Enoxaparin; Esomeprazole; Famotidine; Female; Fibrinolytic Agents; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Humans; Intestinal Perforation; Male; Middle Aged; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Proportional Hazards Models; Ticlopidine; Treatment Outcome