PLoS ONE (Jan 2011)

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and gastrointestinal bleeding: a case-control study.

  • Alfonso Carvajal,
  • Sara Ortega,
  • Lourdes Del Olmo,
  • Xavier Vidal,
  • Carmelo Aguirre,
  • Borja Ruiz,
  • Anita Conforti,
  • Roberto Leone,
  • Paula López-Vázquez,
  • Adolfo Figueiras,
  • Luisa Ibáñez

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0019819
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6, no. 5
p. e19819

Abstract

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BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been associated with upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Given their worldwide use, even small risks account for a large number of cases. This study has been conducted with carefully collected information to further investigate the relationship between SSRIs and upper GI bleeding. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study in hospitals in Spain and in Italy. Cases were patients aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of acute upper GI bleeding diagnosed by endoscopy; three controls were matched by sex, age, date of admission (within 3 months) and hospital among patients who were admitted for elective surgery for non-painful disorders. Exposures to SSRIs, other antidepressants and other drugs were defined as any use of these drugs in the 7 days before the day on which upper gastrointestinal bleeding started (index day). RESULTS: 581 cases of upper GI bleeding and 1358 controls were considered eligible for the study; no differences in age or sex distribution were observed between cases and controls after matching. Overall, 4.0% of the cases and 3.3% of controls used an SSRI antidepressant in the week before the index day. No significant risk of upper GI bleeding was encountered for SSRI antidepressants (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06, 95% CI, 0.57-1.96) or for whichever other grouping of antidepressants. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this case-control study showed no significant increase in upper GI bleeding with SSRIs and provide good evidence that the magnitude of any increase in risk is not greater than 2.