Nitrovasodilators, Low-Dose Aspirin, Other Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs, and the Risk of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Abstract

The relation between medications that release nitric oxide, such as nitroglycerin and other nitrovasodilators, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding is uncertain. In animals, these medications reduce the gastric damage induced by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Nitric oxide, however, inhibits platelet aggregation and may contribute to bleeding from an ulcer.