Risk factors for the development of gastric mucosal lesions in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving long-term nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug therapy and the efficacy of famotidine obtained from the FORCE study

Effectiveness of drug safety measures for reducing the incidence of adverse drug reactions: Post-hoc analysis of data from all-case surveillance of iguratimod using generalized estimating equations

A post-marketing study was performed on all patients who had started treatment with iguratimod, a conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug approved in Japan. During the study period, various safety measures were implemented to reduce risks. We investigated the frequency of adverse drug reactions before and after implementation of each safety measure to examine the preventive effect of these measures. Post-hoc analysis was performed using data from all-case surveillance of iguratimod. The subjects were all of the patients receiving iguratimod for whom safety information was obtained. To identify the time after starting administration when adverse drug reactions were most likely to occur, a generalized linear mixed-effect model was applied for the period from initiation of administration until occurrence of reactions in each patient. The mean incidence of adverse drug reactions per patient was compared before and after the implementation of safety measures by using generalized estimating equations based on a two-sided test, 95% confidence interval, and 5% significance level. The number of patients treated with iguratimod was not related to changes in the number of patients with adverse drug reactions. After implementing precautions regarding co-administration with warfarin and liver dysfunction, the estimated mean incidence rate of adverse drug reactions (95% confidence interval) decreased significantly to 0.73 (0.59-0.90) and 0.72 (0.55-0.94), respectively. Accordingly, some of the implementation of safety measures significantly reduced adverse drug reactions. The effectiveness of safety measures implemented during the all-case surveillance of iguratimod was evaluated, revealing that early implementation of safety measures decreased the incidence of adverse drug reactions.

Clinical Guidelines for Drug-Related Peptic Ulcer, 2020 Revised Edition

Korean guidelines for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced peptic ulcer were previously developed in 2009 with the collaboration of the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research and Korean Society of Gastroenterology. However, the previous guidelines were based mainly upon a review of the relevant literature and expert opinion. Therefore, the guidelines need to be revised. We organized a guideline Development Committee for drug-related peptic ulcer under the auspices of the Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research in 2017 and developed nine statements, including four for NSAIDs, three for aspirin and other antiplatelet agents, and two for anticoagulants through a de novo process founded on evidence-based medicine that included a literature search and a meta-analysis, A consensus was reached through the application of the modified Delphi method. The primary target of these guidelines is adult patients undergoing long-term treatment with NSAIDs, aspirin or other antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. The revised guidelines reflect the expert consensus and is intended to assist clinicians in the management and prevention of druginduced peptic ulcer and associated conditions.

Randomised clinical trial: esomeprazole for the prevention of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related peptic ulcers in Japanese patients

BACKGROUND

The use of proton pump inhibitors for prevention of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced gastrointestinal adverse events is well documented. However, data regarding the efficacy and safety of this approach in Japan are scarce.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of esomeprazole in preventing NSAID-induced peptic ulcers in Japanese at-risk patients.

METHODS

Male and female Japanese adult patients (aged ≥ 20 years) with endoscopically confirmed history of peptic ulcers who required long-term oral NSAID therapy for a chronic inflammatory condition were randomised to 24 weeks' treatment with esomeprazole 20 mg once daily or matching placebo. The primary end point was the Kaplan-Meier estimated proportion of ulcer-free patients.

RESULTS

Overall, 343 patients were randomised to treatment (esomeprazole, n = 175; placebo, n = 168). The Kaplan-Meier estimated ulcer-free rate over the 24-week treatment period was significantly higher (log-rank P < 0.001) in esomeprazole-treated patients (96.0%; 95% CI 92.8, 99.1) than in placebo recipients (64.4%; 95% CI 56.8, 71.9). Esomeprazole was effective at preventing peptic ulcers in both Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative patients (96.3% vs. 95.5% of patients ulcer-free, respectively); however, in the placebo group, the proportion of ulcer-free patients at 24 weeks was markedly lower among H. pylori-positive than -negative patients (59.7% vs. 69.9%). The NSAID type did not seem to affect the estimated ulcer-free rate with esomeprazole. Treatment with esomeprazole was well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Esomeprazole 20 mg once daily is effective and safe in preventing ulcer recurrence in Japanese patients with a definite history of peptic ulcers who were taking an NSAID (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00542789).