An Increasing Proportion of Peptic Ulcers Are Idiopathic

Meanwhile, Helicobacter pylori ulcers are becoming less common.

The major risk factors for peptic ulcer disease remain Helicobacter pylori and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Although a variety of less common causes are associated with peptic ulcers, including Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, smoking, and severe illness, there is an increasingly prevalent category with no obvious etiology called idiopathic peptic ulcer disease (IPUD). Despite its increasing importance, IPUD is poorly understood.

To better understand the prevalence and risk factors associated with IPUD, investigators in Italy retrospectively studied the medical records of 9212 patients undergoing upper endoscopy from 2002 to 2018.

Among 380 patients with peptic ulcer disease, the proportion of those with IPUD steadily …

Reviewing Author

John R. Saltzman, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardIterative Scopes

Editorial BoardsGastrointestinal Endoscopy; UpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology (Trustee)

OtherVice President of Medical Affairs, 1Globe Health Institute