Effectiveness of polaprezinc for low-dose aspirin-induced small-bowel mucosal injuries as evaluated by capsule endoscopy: a pilot randomized controlled study

Table 1 Characteristics of patients with small-bowel mucosal injuries per study group (polaprezinc treatment and no polaprezinc treatment, i.e., control)

Characteristic	Polaprezinc (n = 10)	Control (n = 10)	Pvalue
Sex ratio (male/female)	9/1	7/3	N.S.*
Age (years); median (range)	78.5 (64-82)	75.5 (62-86)	N.S.**
Hemoglobin concentration (g/dL); median (range)	13.6 (10.2-15.3)	13.7 (8-15)	N.S.**
Indication for low-dose aspirin therapy
Valvular heart disease	3	2
Stroke	3	7	N.S.*
Other	4	1
Duration of low-dose aspirin (months); median (range)	64.5 (24-120)	48 (36-120)	N.S.**
Anti-ulcer drug
H2 blocker	1	2	N.S.*
PPI	3	1
None	6	7
Initial CE findings
Median number of erosions/ulcers (range)	2 (0-6)	2 (0-10)	N.S.**
Median number of reddened lesions (range)	3 (0-7)	2 (0-7)	N.S.**
CE score
Median score (range)	180 (0-450)	225 (0-225)	N.S.**
CE score by category
Normal or clinically insignificant change (<135)	3	4
Mild change (≥135 and <790)	7	6	N.S.*
Moderate or severe change (≥790)	0	0

Number of patients are shown unless otherwise indicated.
*by Fisher’s exact test **by Wilcoxon test.
Abbreviations: CE, Capsule endoscopy; PPI, Proton pump inhibitor; N.S., Not significant.

ISSN: 1471-230X