Patients with arthritis who presented with NSAID-induced ulcer bleeding were eligible if they had healed ulcers on follow-up endoscopy; were H. pylori negative or eradicated; and required regular NSAIDs. After the ulcers had healed, all patients received celecoxib 200 mg b.i.d. They were randomly assigned to esomeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. or its placebo for 12 months. The primary endpoint was recurrent ulcer bleeding.