Peptic Ulcer Disease

Introduction

A peptic ulcer is a break in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, extending through to the muscular layer (muscularis mucosae) of the bowel wall. It is an endoscopic diagnosis.

By TeachMeSeries Ltd (2020)

Figure 1 – The greater and lesser curvatures of the stomach

Whilst they may technically appear anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract, they are most often located on the lesser curvature of the proximal stomach or the first part of the duodenum.

The incidence of peptic ulcers is estimated to be around 0.1-0.2% of the population per annum (in Western countries). Duodenal ulcers classically present earlier than gastric ulcers, by around 20 years.

In this article, we shall look at the clinical features, investigations and management of peptic ulcer disease.

Aetiology

The normal gastrointestinal mucosa is protected by numerous defensive mechanisms, such as surface mucous secretion and HCO3- ion release.

Peptic ulcer disease occurs when there is an imbalance between factors that protect the mucosa of the stomach and duodenum, and factors that cause damage to it.

Most commonly, this is through the presence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug* (NSAID) use.

*NSAIDs can cause peptic ulcer formation by their action in inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis, resulting in a reduced secretion of glycoprotein, mucous, and phospholipids by the gastric epithelial cells, which would otherwise normally protect the gastric mucosa

Risk Factors

The two main risk factors for peptic ulcers are H. pylori infection and prolonged NSAID use. Other risk factors include corticosteroid use (when used with NSAIDs), previous gastric bypass surgery, physiological stress (such as severe burns (Curling’s ulcer) or head trauma (Cushing’s ulcer)), or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (rare).

Clinical Features

Up to 70% of peptic ulcers can be asymptomatic. For symptomatic patients, peptic ulcers can present with epigastric or retrosternal pain*, nausea, bloating, post-prandial discomfort, or early satiety.

Less commonly, patients may present with complications of their peptic ulcer disease, such as bleeding, perforation, or gastric outlet obstruction.

NICE guidelines suggest that a referral for urgent upper Oesophago-Gastro-Duodenoscopy (OGD) should be done for patients presenting with either:

• New-onset dysphagia
• Aged >55 years with weight loss and either upper abdominal pain, reflux, or dyspepsia
• New onset dyspepsia not responding to PPI treatment

*Classically, any pain from a gastric ulcer is exacerbated by eating, whilst duodenal ulcers are worse 2-4 hours after eating or even alleviated by eating

Differential Diagnoses

Any condition that causes dyspepsia, chest pain, or epigastric pain can be considered a differential for peptic ulcer disease.

Important differentials to consider include acute coronary syndrome, gastro-oesphageal reflux, gallstone disease, gastric malignancy, and pancreatitis,

Investigations

Many patients may not require an OGD initially and can be treated empirically initially. A full blood count may be warranted however to assess for any potential anaemia.

Most patients, especially younger patients, should undergo non-invasive H. pylori testing*, which will be either as:

• Carbon-13 urea breath test
• Serum antibodies to H. pylori
• Stool antigen test

In older patients, those with red flag symptoms, or those with ongoing symptoms despite empirical treatment, an OGD is required.

At endoscopy, any peptic ulceration seen (Fig. 2) can be biopsied, which will be sent for histology (if looks suspicious for malignancy) and for rapid urease test (the CLO test, giving an rapid result for determining presence of H. pylori).

NICE guidance recommends that all identified gastric ulcers are biopsied, due to malignant potential, and that a repeat endoscopy is performed towards the end of PPI therapy to check for resolution.

*Importantly, prior to any H. pylori test, patients should stop any current medical therapy for 2 weeks prior to investigation to reduce the risk of false negatives; once H. pylori is identified, no further investigations are warranted prior to starting eradication therapy

Adapted from work by Samir_grover [CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Figure 2 – Features of peptic ulcers on OGD (A) peptic ulcer located in the gastric antrum (B) haemorrhaging gastric ulcer

Management

Conservative

Any patient with suspected or confirmed peptic ulcer disease should be given lifestyle advice to reduce symptoms, such as smoking cessation, weight loss, and reduction in alcohol consumption. There should also be an avoidance / cessation of NSAIDs where possible.

Patients with suspected or confirmed ulcers can be started on a Proton Pump Inhibitor for 4-8 weeks to reduce acid production. They should be reassessed after this period for resolution of symptoms (“Test and Treat”). Those patients with a positive H. pylori test should be started on triple therapy*.

Persistence of symptoms post-PPI +/- eradication therapy warrants further work-up, with first line being an urgent OGD to exclude any malignancy. Following this, other causes of treatment failure can be considered, such as failure of H. pylori eradication or Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.

*Any patient with positive H. pylori testing requires eradication therapy (also termed triple therapy), which commonly consists of a PPI with oral amoxicllin and clarithromycin or metronidazole for 7 days.

Surgical Management

Surgery for peptic ulcer disease is rare, except in emergencies (such as perforation) or in the management of Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome.

However, in severe or relapsing disease, either partial gastrectomy or selective vagotomy may be considered

Complications

The main complications of peptic ulcer disease are perforation, haemorrhage, and pyloric stenosis (rare).