Study: Celebrex Equal to Older Combo in Preventing Bleeding Ulcers

Researchers in Hong Kong report that the newer nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) Celebrex works as well in preventing bleeding ulcers in high-risk arthritis patients as a conventional NSAID taken in combination with a drug that prevents production of stomach acid.

In a study at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Hong Kong, the researchers tested the cox-2 inhibitor Celebrex (celecoxib) against a combination of the NSAID diclofenac (Cataflam or Voltaren) and the proton pump inhibitor Prilosec (omeprazole) on patients who already had experienced a bleeding ulcer.

Bleeding ulcers are a potentially life-threatening complication faced by the millions of patients who take NSAIDs for arthritis relief.

Reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers said that during their six month trial, recurrent ulcer bleeding occurred in 7 patients receiving Celebrex and 9 receiving diclofenac plus Prilosec.

"Among patients with a recent history of ulcer bleeding, treatment with celecoxib was as effective as treatment with diclofenac plus omeprazole, with respect to the prevention of recurrent bleeding," the researchers concluded.

Dr. John G. Fort, vice president of medical affairs at Pharmacia which markets Celebrek, said that while this was "a relatively limited study in high-risk patients," it does show that "one drug can be narrowly better than a combination of these two drugs."

Other sources: New England Journal of Medicine