Peptic Ulcer

Pathophysiology
Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of your esophagus, stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine. The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is abdominal pain.

Treatment
Nearly all peptic ulcers will be treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like omeprazole, lansoprazole , pantoprazole, rabeprazole, esomeprazole, dexlansoprazole and H2 blockers like ranitidine, cimetidine, famotidine and nizatidine.

Disease statistics
In the United States, about 10% of the population will develop a duodenal ulcer at some point in their lives. Peptic ulcer disease affects about 4.6 million people annually. The occurrence of peptic ulcer disease is similar in men and women. Approximately 11%-14% of men and 8%-11% of women will develop peptic ulcer disease in their lifetime. The mortality rate for peptic ulcer disease is approximately one death per 10,000 cases. The mortality rate due to ulcer hemorrhage is approximately 5%.

Research
Research on Peptic ulcers is supported by National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, American Gastroenterological Association and American College of Gastroenterology. Today, research shows that most ulcers (80 percent of gastric ulcers and 90 percent of duodenal ulcers) develop as a result of infection with a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).