Risk of gastric injury with enteric- versus nonenteric-coated aspirin

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate through clinical trials the risk of various aspirin preparations on the gastric mucosa. DATA SOURCES: Articles reporting clinical research were accessed through MEDLINE (1980-November 1998). Key search terms included enteric-coated aspirin, buffered aspirin, and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. DATA SYNTHESIS: Aspirin products are known to cause GI bleeding. Enteric-coated aspirin may provide an additional protective effect on gastric mucosa compared with buffered aspirin. An evaluation of studies comparing various aspirin preparations and the risk of gastric mucosal injury was conducted. CONCLUSIONS: For long-term use, enteric-coated aspirin may provide a safer alternative than buffered aspirin; however, further studies are necessary.

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