PEPTIC ULCER: A REVIEW ON ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS

Abstract

A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of the stomach or duodenum. The two most common types of peptic ulcer are called “gastric ulcers” and “duodenal ulcers”. Peptic ulcers are found to be due to an imbalance between aggressive factors such as hydrochloric acid (HCL), pepsin, refluxed bile, leukotrienes (LTs), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and defensive factors, which include the function of the mucus-bicarbonate barrier, prostaglandins (PGs), mucosal blood flow, cell renewal and migration, nonenzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants and some growth factors. H. pylori infection and the use of nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the predominant causes of peptic ulcer disease. Also, a numbers of factors are implicated in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer, among which major factors involved are bacterial infection (Helicobacter pylori), certain medications (NSAID), chemicals (Hcl/ethanol) ,gastric cancer and minor factors are stress, smoking, spicy food and nutritional deficiencies. The idea behind treating ulcers is to lower the amount of acid that your stomach makes, to neutralize the acid that is made and to protect the injured area so it can have time to heal. The main aim of this review article has to summarize the ulcerogenic mechanisms of various mediators involved in Peptic ulcer disease.