Antiinflammatory Drugs and Gastrointestinal Bleeding: A Comparison of Aspirin and Ibuprofen

Abstract
Gastrointestinal blood loss provoked by short-term and long-term therapy with aspirin and ibuprofen was compared in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Blood loss was assessed by isotope counting of 4-day stool collections after infusion of 51Cr-labeled autologous erythrocytes. After 2 wk on drug or after 1 yr on drug, aspirin consistently caused more bleeding than ibuprofen.