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The major causes of peptic ulcers are Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some data suggest that the clinical course may differ with the etiology of the ulcer.
In the current retrospective study, researchers evaluated 575 patients who presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) from peptic ulcers at a single hospital in Texas. Of these patients, 444 received appropriate testing for H. pylori infection; half tested positive and half negative. Using demographic, clinical, and drug use data, researchers defined four groups based on status of H. pylori infection and prior use of NSAIDs.
Thirty-day mortality did not differ between the groups. H. pylori–positive patients had a lower 30-day rebl…