OBJECTIVES Serious upper gastrointestinal events are an important threat to patients with arthritis who are treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In this study risk factors for serious upper gastrointestinal events are identified in patients with possible or definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS A retrospective analysis of factors that might contribute to the risk...

OBJECTIVES To determine the association between inhibition of serotonin reuptake by antidepressants and upper gastrointestinal bleeding. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study from population based databases. SETTING Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS 317 824 elderly people observed for more than 130 000 person years. The patients started taking an antidepressant between 1992 and 1998 and were grou...

In 1986, 292 patients were admitted to a joint medical-surgical gastrointestinal unit with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Fourteen patients died (4.8%) a mortality considerably lower than recorded in most series. The low mortality may result from the use of a specialized gastrointestinal unit to which all patients with upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage are admitted and managed with strict...

BACKGROUND Upper gastrointestinal bleeding implies significant clinical and economic repercussions. The correct establishment of the latest therapies for the upper gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with reduced in-hospital mortality. The use of clinical pathways for the upper gastrointestinal bleeding is associated with shorter hospital stay and lower hospital costs. OBJECTIVE The prima...