Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial of Rebamipide vs Esomeprazole in the Treatment of NSAID-induced Gastropathy

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis who developed dyspeptic symptoms while on NSAID for at leat 4 weeks who fulfill any of the following criteria: 1) Have not been on NSAIDs (NSAID-naïve) as they are newly diagnosed patients or satisfies ALL of the following criteria: a) Have not received NSAIDs for more than 2 years continuously, b) Have not received NSAID for at least 3 months, c) Does not take more than the therapeutic dose required for any of the following NSAIDS: Aspirin (at max. 4000mg.day), Naproxen (at max. 1375mg/day), Ibupropen (at max. 2400mg/day), Diclofenac (at max. 200mg/day), Piroxicam (at max. 40mg/day). 2) Gastric mucosal lesions on upper endoscopy (Lanza score ≥ 1) 3) More than 18 and less than 65 years old 4) Medically cleared and consents to undergo upper endoscopy 5) Willing to participate in the trial and sign an informed consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with known malignancy 2) Women who are pregnant and breastfeeding 3) Psychiatric illness 4) severe co-morbid illness like renal failure, cirrhosis, etc. 5) History of intake of any anti-secretory agent for the past 2 weeks 6) Patients with coagulation disorders and hematologic problems 7) Complicated ulcers, i.e. bleeding, perforating, etc. 8) Patients with evidence of portal hypertension i.e. varices, portal gastropathy, etc. 9) History of gastric surgery 10) Patients on COX-2 inhibitors 11) Modified Lanza score of 0 12) Herbal medications or complementary alternative medicines (e.g. glucosamine chondroitisulfate, etc. 13) (+)H.pylori test by RUT (Rapid Urease Test) and biopsy.