Peptic Ulcer Diseases

Peptic ulcers are defects or breaks in the inner lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Although the pathogenesis is multifactorial they tend to arise when there is an imbalance between protective and aggressive factors, such as when GI mucosal defense mechanisms are impaired in the presence of gastric acid and pepsin. Peptic ulcers extend through the mucosa and the muscularis mucosae, a thin layer of smooth muscle separating the mucosa from the deeper submucosa, muscularis propria, and serosa. Peptic ulcer disease affects up to 10% of men and 4% of women in Western countries at some time in their lives. This chapter discusses the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease and the etiologic contribution of Helicobacter pylori infection, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and gastrinoma or other hypersecretory states. Also addressed are rare and unusual causes for ulcers and GI bleeding. A section on the diagnosis of peptic ulcers discusses clinical manifestations, physical examination findings, laboratory and imaging studies, and surgical diagnosis. Differential diagnosis is also reviewed. Tests to establish the etiology of peptic ulcer disease include endoscopy, quantitative serologic tests, the urea breath test, and the fecal antigen test. Discussed separately are treatments for uncomplicated duodenal ulcers, uncomplicated gastric ulcers, intractable duodenal or gastric ulcers, complicated peptic ulcers (bleeding ulcers, acute stress ulcers, perforated ulcers, obstructing ulcers, fistulizing ulcers, and Cameron ulcers), H. pylori ulcers, and gastric cancer. Figures illustrate the etiopathogenesis of peptic ulcers, prevalence of H. pylori infection in duodenal and gastric ulcer patients compared with normal controls, the approach to a patient with new and undiagnosed ulcerlike symptoms refractory to antisecretory therapy, an upper GI series showing an uncomplicated duodenal ulcer, a chest x-ray showing pneumoperitoneum from a perforated duodenal ulcer, gastric biopsy samples showing H. pylori organisms, and the approach to treatment and follow-up in patients with either complicated or uncomplicated duodenal or gastric ulcer. Tables list differential diagnoses of peptic ulcer disease, commonly used regimens to eradicate H. pylori, additional antimicrobial agents with activity against H. pylori, and FDA-approved antisecretory drugs for active peptic ulcer disease. This chapter contains 76 references.