Chapter 64: Peptic Ulcer Disease Flashcards
PUD
Group of upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorders
Degrees of erosion of the gut wall
Severe erosion can be complicated by hemorrhage and perforation
PUD causes
Imbalance between mucosal and aggressive factors
Gastric defensive factors
Mucus
Secreted cells of the GI mucosa
Forms a barrier to protect underlying cells from acid and pepsin
Bicarbonate
Secreted by epithelial cells of stomach and duodenum
Most remains trapped in mucus layer to neutralize hydrogen ions that penetrate the mucus
Blood flow
Poor blood flow can lead to ischemia, cell injury, and vulnerability to attack
Prostaglandins
Stimulate the secretion of mucus and bicarbonate
*NSAIDs and H pylori are 2 major agents that weaken defensive mechanism
*mucous and bicarbonate are major defensive mechanisms
Aggressive factors of PUD: H pylori
Helicobacter pylori, also known as H. pylori
Gram-negative bacillus that can colonize the stomach and duodenum
Lives between epithelial cells and the mucus barrier
Escapes destruction by acid
Can remain in the GI tract for decades
Half of the world is infected, but most people do not develop symptomatic peptic ulcer disease (PUD)
60% to 70% of patients with PUD have H. pylori infection
H. pylori may also promote gastric cancer
Duodenal ulcers are much more common among people with H. pylori infection than among people who are not infected
Eradication of the bacterium promotes healing of the PUD and minimized recurrence of PUD
Aggressive factors of PUD : NSAIDs
Inhibit the biosynthesis of prostaglandins
Reduce blood flow, mucus, and bicarbonate
Aggressive factors of PUD: gastric acid
Causes ulcers directly by injuring cells of the GI mucosa and indirectly by activating pepsin
Increased acid alone does not increase ulcers but is a definite factor in PUD
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
Pathogenesis of PUD: pepsin
Proteolytic enzyme in gastric juice
Pathogenesis of PUD: smoking
Delays ulcer healing and increases risk for recurrence
Summary of ulcer development
Most common cause
Infection with H. pylori is the most common cause of gastric and duodenal ulcers
Additional factors must be involved; 50% harbor H. pylori, but only 10% develop PUD
Second most common cause
NSAIDs
Overview of tx for PUD
Goals of drug therapy
Alleviate symptoms
Promote healing
Prevent complications
Prevent recurrence
Drugs do not alter the disease process; they create conditions conducive to healing
Classes of Antiulcer Drugs
Antibiotics
Antisecretory agents
Mucosal protectants
Antisecretory agents that enhance mucosal defenses
Antacids
Three Ways Antiulcer Drugs Work
- Eradicate H pylori -antibiotics
- Reduce gastric acidity -anti secretory agents, misprostol
- Enhance mucosal defenses -sucralfate, misoprostol
H pylori ulcers drug selection
Antibiotics
Should be given to all patients with gastric/duodenal ulcers and documented H. pylori infection
Antisecretory agents
NSAID-induced ulcer drug selection
Prophylaxis:
Risk factors for ulcer development: Age over 60 years, history of ulcers, high-dose NSAID therapy
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are preferred (e.g., omeprazole)
Misoprostol is also effective but can cause diarrhea
Treatment
Histamine blockers and PPIs (e.g., omeprazole) are preferred
Antacids, sucralfate, and histamine2 receptor blockers are not recommended
Discontinue NSAIDs if possible
Evaluation of treatment
Monitor for relief of pain, endoscopic exams, check for H pylori in stools
Pepsin
Proteolytic enzyme that can contribute to ulcer formation; it promotes ulcers by breaking down protein in the gut wall
Activity of pepsin is pH dependent; drugs that elevate gastric pH (e.g., antacids, histamine2 antagonists, PPIs) can cause peptic activity to increase, thereby enhancing pepsin’s destructive effects
To avoid activation of pepsin, drugs that reduce acidity should be administered in doses sufficient to raise the gastric pH above 5
Non drug ulcer therapy
Diet
Traditional “ulcer diet” does not accelerate healing
No convincing evidence indicates that caffeinated beverages promote ulcers or delay healing
Change in eating pattern to five or six small meals a day reduces pH fluctuations
Avoid smoking, aspirin, other NSAIDs, and alcohol
Stress reduction
Evaluation of Therapy for ulcers
Monitor for relief of pain
Keep in mind: Cessation of pain and disappearance of ulcer rarely coincide
Pain may subside before complete healing or may continue after healing
Radiologic or endoscopic examination of ulcer site
H. pylori tests
H pylori tests
Noninvasive
Breath test
Serologic test
Stool test
Invasive
Endoscopic specimen obtained and evaluated
Stained and viewed under microscope to see if H. pylori is present
Assayed for the presence of urease (a marker enzyme for H. pylori)
Cultured and then assayed for the presence of H. pylori
H pylori tx
Minimum of two antibiotics prescribed (up to three may be used) to reduce risk of resistance developing
Amoxicillin
Clarithromycin
Bismuth compounds
Tetracycline
Metronidazole
Tinidazole
Antibiotic Regimen for h pylori
Clarithromycin (if the area doesn’t have high resistance), amoxicillin, bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline
None is effective alone
Want them in combination
If these drugs are used alone, the risk of resistance developing increases
Goal: Minimize emergence of resistance; guidelines recommend using at least two antibiotics, preferably three
Antisecretory agent: PPI or histamine2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) also should be used
Eradication rates are good with a 10-day course and slightly better with a 14-day course
Clarithromycin [Biaxin]
Suppresses the growth of H. pylori by inhibiting protein synthesis
In the absence of resistance, treatment is highly effective
Unfortunately, rate of resistance is rising, exceeding 20% in some areas
Most common side effects
Nausea
Diarrhea
Distortion of taste
Amoxicillin
H. pylori is highly sensitive to amoxicillin
Rate of resistance is low, only about 3%
Amoxicillin kills bacteria by disrupting cell wall
Antibacterial activity is highest at a neutral pH and thus can be enhanced by reducing gastric acidity with an antisecretory agent (e.g., omeprazole)
Most common side effect is diarrhea