| | The University of Chicago Hospitals (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-10-15) |
 | | It has been difficult to demonstrate relationships between the plasma concentrations and toxicity of NSAIDs in humans, although linear relations between plasma concentrations of salicylate and ototoxicity have been demonstrated and there is a correlation between the NSAID dosage and upper GI bleeding. |
 | | Although clinically apparent ulcers occur in a tiny fraction of NSAID users, given the vast number of patients exposed to NSAIDs, their toxicity to the upper GI tract represents a substantial clinical problem and is the most frequent drug side effect in the United States. |
 | | Presently, it is thought that there are at least 20,000 hospitalizations per year in the United States associated with NSAID-induced gastrointestinal toxicity and approximately 2,000 deaths resulting from major complications such as hemorrhage or perforation. |
| daccx.bsd.uchicago.edu /drug/Bulletins/n0596.html (4457 words) |