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The need for long‐term treatment of peptic ulcer
Author(s) -
DOBRILLA G.,
ZANCANELLA L.,
AMPLATZ S.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2036.1993.tb00594.x
Subject(s) - medicine , discontinuation , perforation , asymptomatic , peptic ulcer , helicobacter pylori , gastroenterology , disease , peptic , population , surgery , materials science , environmental health , punching , metallurgy
SUMMARY Some 10% of the population in Western countries will suffer a duodenal ulcer or gastric ulcer at some time in their lives. Although there has been an improvement in the, survival rate of patients with peptic ulcer haemorrhage, the mortality is still approximately 10%. There is evidence to suggest that peptic ulcer disease is a life‐long condition and that ulcers remain active with an unchanged potential for complications such as haemorrhage and perforation. Over the past 15 years anti‐ulcer drugs with different mechanisms of action have been developed, and their use results in complete healing of an ulcer in four to eight weeks. However, most patients experience recurrence of their peptic ulcer after discontinuation of the healing therapy. Studies of continuous H 2 ‐receptor antagonist therapy have shown that recurrence occurs less frequently than in untreated patients, is largely asymptomatic, and is rarely characterized by haemorrhagic complications. Limited data on therapy for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori suggest that this may be an alternative approach for selected patients. As protection afforded by H 2 ‐receptor antagonists remains undiminished over the course of several years and is also observed in ulcers which have bled in the past, the implementation of long‐term management with these agents constitutes a rational policy.