Peptic Ulcer Disease

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PUD Essentials - Defining the Damage

  • Definition: Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is a defect in the gastric or duodenal mucosa extending through the muscularis mucosae, typically ≥ 5 mm in diameter.
  • Locations:
    • Duodenal Ulcers (DU): Commonest; usually 1st part of duodenum (D1), anterior wall.
    • Gastric Ulcers (GU): Often lesser curvature; Type I most common.
  • Pathophysiology: Imbalance between mucosal aggressive factors (acid, pepsin, H. pylori, NSAIDs) and defensive mechanisms (mucus-bicarbonate layer, prostaglandins, blood flow, epithelial regeneration).
    • ⭐ > Most common cause of PUD is H. pylori infection, followed by NSAID use.
  • Other causes: Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (gastrinoma), stress ulcers (Cushing's - ↑ intracranial pressure; Curling's - burns). Peptic ulcer in stomach and duodenum with tissue layers

Pathophysiology & Symptoms - The Ulcer's Tale

  • Pathophysiology: Imbalance: Aggressive factors (acid, pepsin, H. pylori, NSAIDs) overwhelm mucosal defensive factors (mucus, bicarbonate, prostaglandins, blood flow).
    • H. pylori: Spiral-shaped; urease (NH₃ → local ↑pH → ↑gastrin → ↑acid). Virulence: CagA, VacA.
    • NSAIDs: Inhibit COX-1 → ↓prostaglandins → ↓mucosal defense & repair.
    • ZES: Gastrinoma → hypergastrinemia → ↑↑acid.
  • Symptoms:
    • Epigastric pain: Burning, gnawing. Timing with meals key.

    ⭐ Duodenal ulcer pain classically improves with meals (food buffers acid), while gastric ulcer pain worsens (food stimulates acid).

    • Gastric Ulcer (GU): Pain ↑ with meals. Nausea, vomiting, weight loss.
    • Duodenal Ulcer (DU): Pain ↓ with meals, recurs 2-3 hrs postprandial. Night pain common.
    • Alarm: Bleeding (melena/hematemesis), anemia, weight loss, persistent vomiting, dysphagia. Peptic Ulcer Disease: Stomach and Duodenum Ulcers

Diagnosis & H. pylori - Unmasking the Culprit

  • Endoscopy (OGD): Gold standard. Biopsy for H. pylori & malignancy (gastric ulcers).
  • Barium Meal: If endoscopy contraindicated.

H. pylori Tests:

  • Invasive (via Endoscopy):
    • Rapid Urease Test (RUT): Quick, common.
    • Histology: High sensitivity/specificity.
    • Culture: For resistance.
  • Non-invasive:
    • Urea Breath Test (UBT): Diagnosis & eradication confirmation (stop PPI/Abx 4 wks prior).
    • Stool Antigen Test (SAT): Similar to UBT.
    • Serology (IgG): Exposure only, not for eradication check.

⭐ Upper GI endoscopy with biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing PUD and allows for H. pylori testing and malignancy exclusion in gastric ulcers.

H. pylori breath test procedure

Treatment & Complications - Mending & Monitoring

  • H. pylori Eradication (Key):
    • Triple Therapy: PPI + Clarithromycin + Amoxicillin for 14 days.
    • Quadruple Therapy (Bismuth/Non-Bismuth) for resistance/failure.
  • Acid Suppression:
    • Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): e.g., Omeprazole 20-40mg OD.
    • H2 Receptor Antagonists (H2RAs).
  • Lifestyle: Avoid NSAIDs, smoking, alcohol.
  • Surgery (Rare): For refractory ulcers or complications (e.g., vagotomy, antrectomy).

Key Complications (see flowchart):

  • Key Complications (details):
    • Bleeding (most common): Endoscopic Rx, IV PPI.
    • Perforation: Surgical emergency.
    • Gastric Outlet Obstruction (GOO): Dilation/surgery.
    • Penetration: Into adjacent organs.
  • Monitoring:
    • Symptom relief.
    • Gastric ulcer: repeat endoscopy (r/o malignancy).
    • H. pylori test-of-cure (UBT/SAT).

⭐ Standard first-line triple therapy for H. pylori eradication includes a PPI + Clarithromycin + Amoxicillin for 14 days.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • H. pylori and NSAIDs are primary causes of Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD).
  • Duodenal ulcers: pain relieved by meals; Gastric ulcers: pain worsened by meals.
  • Urea breath test or stool antigen test for H. pylori eradication confirmation.
  • Standard triple therapy (PPI + two antibiotics) for H. pylori eradication is crucial.
  • Major complications include bleeding (most common), perforation, and gastric outlet obstruction.
  • Suspect Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with multiple or refractory ulcers.
  • Endoscopy is diagnostic gold standard and allows for biopsy_._

Practice Questions: Peptic Ulcer Disease

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Flashcards: Peptic Ulcer Disease

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_____ syndrome is caused by a gastrinoma of the pancreas (non- cells) or duodenum

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_____ syndrome is caused by a gastrinoma of the pancreas (non- cells) or duodenum

Zollinger-Ellison

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