[Prophylaxis and treatment of gastric ulcer by low-dose aspirin in the aged].

Low-dose aspirin, one of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), has been increasingly used to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease through its antiplatelet effect, mainly in the aged population, but aspirin treatment has been associated with gastrointestinal injures, especially peptic ulcer bleedings. However, as discontinuation of aspirin, unlike NSAIDs, may precipitate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, treatment of aspirin-associated ulcers should re-start aspirin as soon as possible, using proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Therefore, high risk patients for peptic ulcers should be prevented with antisecretory drugs, such as PPI or histamine H2-receptor antagonists, because ulcer bleedings in patients with treatment of low-dose aspirin can be serious.