Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as effective agents for the relief of pain and inflammation are among the most widely prescribed drugs. Unfortunately, their benefits especially for patients with osteoarthritis and other chronic musculoskeletal conditions, are accompanied by well established toxicity. A significant percentage of NSAIDs users experience some type of gastrointestinal adverse events, ranging from manageable dyspepsia to clinically important complications (gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcer perforation, obstruction). In an attempt to reduce the incidence of NSAID-induced gastropathy, the following approaches have been proposed: avoidance of NSAIDs or minimising their dosage, selecting NSAID known to cause less damage and coprescription of various agents. Patients who require NSAIDs therapy should be assessed for factors that increase risk of gastrointestinal damage. In high risk patients, use of misoprostol, which reduces even serious gastrointestinal complications, or proton pump inhibitors, whose efficacy in preventing gastroduodenal ulcers due to NSAIDs exposure has been demonstrated in large clinical trials, is possible to use. The first step in the treatment of NSAID-associated ulcers lies in discontinuation of NSAIDs therapy. If NSAIDs cannot be withdrawn, an antisecretory therapy should be initiated. Proton pump inhibitors appear to be the most effective at healing NSAID-related ulcers among whose with continuous NSAIDs therapy. Another therapeutic option in the management of NSAID-gastropathy is to use specific cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. However, the clinical experience with these agents is still limited and further surveillance to resolve this issue as well as e.g. the role of Helicobacter pylori infection in NSAID-induced gastrointestinal injury are needed.

Keywords: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal /adverse effects/; Anti-Ulcer Agents /therapeutic use/; Helicobacter Infections /complications/; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Stomach Diseases /chemically induced/