Acid-peptic disease includes peptic ulcer (gastric and duodenal), gastroesophageal reflux and Zollinger – Ellison syndrome.
Peptic – ulcer disease is thought to result from an imbalance between cell – destructive effects of hydrochloric acid and pepsin and cell-protective effects of mucus and bicarbonate on the other side. Pepsin is a proteolyic enzyme activated in gastric acid, also can digest the stomach wall.
A bacterium, Helicobacter pylori is now accepted to be involved in the pathogenesis of ulcer.
In gastroesophageal reflux, acidic stomach contents enter into the esophagus causing a burning sensation in the region of the heart; hence the common name heartburn, or other names such as indigestion, dyspepsia, pyrosis, etc.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is caused a tumor of gastrin secreting cells of pancreas characterized by excessive secretion of gastrin that stimulates gastric acid secretion.
The disorders can be treated by drugs, which are able to:
- Neutralize gastric acid (HCl) e.g. magnesium hydroxide
- Reduce gastric acid secretione.g. cimetidine
- Enhance mucosal defences e.g sucralfate
- Exert antimicrobial action against H.pylori e.g. clarithromycin The effective therapeutic approach of ucler is based on the adage:
“no acid, no ulcer”
Anti – ulcer drugs: drugs used in the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcer disease act mainly to decrease cell-destructive effects, increase cell – protective effects or both.
Leave a Reply