Peptic ulcer disease, Helicobacter pylori

1. Big picture

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) means an ulcer in the stomach or duodenum caused by the digestive action of gastric acid and pepsin on mucosa whose defenses are weakened. The two most important causes are:

1. Helicobacter pylori infection
2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin

Exam core sentence: Epigastric pain related to meals suggests peptic ulcer disease, but bleeding, perforation, obstruction, weight loss, anemia, or recurrent gastric ulcer require endoscopy.