Importance of Aspirin as a Cause of Anaemia and Peptic Ulcer in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Drug-Induced Diseases

“…Regardless of the effects which cortisone congeners may have on gastric acidity, it is fair to assume that just as these drugs retard wound healing by their specific anti-inflammative action, so they may depress the normal rate of replacement of normally desquamated epithelium of the intestine and, thereby, facilitate bleeding and the develop ment of ulcers. A similar process, rather than the commonly accepted one of local irritant action,may also apply to aspirin and other minor anti-inflam mative agents, such as butazolidin, which are also associated with intestinal bleeding and peptic ulcer and it may, therefore, be anticipated in the case of new anti-inflammative drugs (6,9,139,143).…”

Causal influences in haematemesis and melaena

“…No cases of bleeding from sodium salicylate administration were observed (cf. also Baragar and Duthie, 1960) but Scott and his co-workers (1961) found it liable to cause gastric bleeding when in tablet form, but did not test ordinary strengths of mist. sod.…”

Nature of anaemia in rheumatoid arthritis. 8. Iron content of synovial tissue in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in normal individuals.

“…There is no abnormal loss of iron in the urine of these patients (Lawson, Owen, and Mowat, 1967). Gastrointestinal blood loss occurs in patients who take salicylates (Scott, Porter, Lewis, and Dixon, 1961), but Baragar and Duthie (1960) found no evidence to suggest that continued salicylate therapy enhanced the degree of anaemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.…”