Special features

Peptic ulcer disease
— the disease and non-drug treatment

By Santosh Enaganti, MD, MRCP

Peptic ulcer disease is a common condition that is now recognised as being caused by Helicobacter pylori infection in most cases. This article, the first in a special feature on the condition, describes the clinical features and diagnosis of the disease

This article as a FULL TEXT PDF (70K)

Santosh Enaganti is specialist registrar in gastroenterology at Leeds General Infirmary

A.B Dowsett/SPL

Helicobacter pylori bacteria are usually present in patients with peptic ulcers

Helicobacter pylori bacteria are usually present in patients with peptic ulcers

SUMMARY

Until the 1980s, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) was thought to be a chronic, incurable, relapsing disorder. This changed when Helicobacter pylori bacteria were identified as being responsible for the disease in most cases.

This article outlines the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis of PUD, and briefly describes endoscopic therapies. A second article (p245) describes the pharmacological treatment of the disease.

Special features

Peptic ulcer disease — the disease and non-drug treatment

SUMMARY

Peptic ulcer disease
— the disease and non-drug treatment