Abstract

PEPTIC ULCER-A REVIEW ON ETIOLOGY, PATHOGENESIS AND TREATMENT

Tuhin Subhra Dutta*

ABSTRACT

Peptic ulcers are open sores developing on the inside of the stomach and upper portion of small intestine. A burning stomach is the most common symptom which starts between meals or during nights and it can last for several minutes to hours. It mainly includes gastric and duodenal ulcers. It is caused due to an imbalance between aggressive factors like hydrochloric acid, pepsin, refluxed bile, leukotriene, reactive oxygen species and defensive factors like mucus-bicarbonate barrier, prostaglandins, mucosal blood flow, cell renewal, and migration, non-enzymatic and enzymatic anti-oxidants and growth factors. It is also caused by H.pylori infection, regular use of certain pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen but not acetaminophen, Over-The- Counter and NSAID’s. Smoking, alcohol, stress and spicy foods are Certain risk factor of peptic ulcers .Treatment includes the use of certain proton-pump inhibitors, H2 receptor blockers, cytoprotective agents and anti-microbials. This review article includes the etiology, pathogenesis and complete treatment of peptic ulcers.

Keywords: Peptic ulcer, cyclooxygenase enzyme, mitogen activated protein kinases, Prostaglandin.