Objective The role of tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in the pathogenesis of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced small intestinal damage remains unclear. We evaluated the preventive effect of anti-TNF therapy against NSAID-induced enteropathy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Design Capsule endoscopy was performed in 95 consecutive RA patients who received NSAID for more than 3 months, with or without anti-TNF therapy over a period of 3 months. The findings were scored from 0 to 4: 0, normal; 1, red spots; 2, one to four erosions; 3, more than four erosions; and 4, large erosions/ulcers. The relationship between the use of anti-TNF therapy and the risk of severe damage (scores 3 or 4) or the most severe damage (score 4) was assessed using multiple logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, a propensity score matching analysis was performed to reduce the effects of TNF selection bias.

Results By stratifying the patients on the basis of anti-TNF therapy, we obtained crude OR of 0.23 for severe damage (95% CI 0.09 to 0.65) and 0.37 for the most severe damage (95% CI 0.16 to 0.86). This protective effect of anti-TNF therapy remained robust to adjustments for baseline characteristics, with the adjusted OR for severe damage and the most severe damage ranging from 0.23 to 0.26 and 0.06 to 0.41, respectively. Propensity score matching yielded similar results and showed the protective effects of anti-TNF therapy against severe and most severe damage.

Conclusions Anti-TNF therapy may protect against NSAID-induced small intestinal damage in RA patients.