Analysis of the upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding prevalence in patients treated due ischaemic heart disease.

PURPOSE The analysis concerning the frequency of bleedings from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract in group of patients suffering from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) treated and not treated with coronaroplasty. The other aim of the study was to analyse the incidence of using particular groups of drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS 150 patients were included in the study, aged from 17 to 86. They were divided into three groups: I group--patients treated with coronaroplasty (n=50), II group--patients who were not treated with coronaroplasty (n=50), III control group (n=50). The patients filled in a questionnaire (among other things the questions concerned methods and period of treating heart ischaemia and stomach complaints. The documentation of the keyhole examinations of the upper part of the digestive tract was analysed in flashback). RESULTS Bleeding from the upper part of the gastrointestinal tract (only single episode) was noticed in 5 patients (treated with IHD) (3.33%). All these patients belonged to the group II. Endoscopic examination of the upper part of gastrointestinal tract was carried out in 4 of these patients and haemorrhagic gastritis has been found. The following drugs were more frequently used in patients treated with coronaroplasty: acetylsalicylic acid, clopidogrel, ticlopidine. Acenocoumarol was more frequently used in patients not treated with coronaroplasty. The differences were not significant and concerned the usage frequency of the following drugs: beta-blockers, calcium canal blockers, ACE, systemic nitrates and statins. CONCLUSIONS Bleeding from the upper part of gastrointestinal tract occurred more frequently among patients not treated with coronaroplasty. The following drugs were used more frequently in the group of patients treated with coronaroplasty: acetylsalicylic acid, ticlopidine and clopidogrel, but acenocoumarol was used more frequently in the group of patients treated only pharmacologically.