A peptic ulcer is a lesion in the gastric or duodenal wall, which broadens through the muscularis mucosa to the submucosal and muscularis propia tissues. Surprisingly it can be more frequently found in duodenum than in stomach. The most common symptoms of PUD are dyspepsia, gastric outlet obstruction, gastro-intestinal bleeding and anemia. A peptic ulcer forms when the balance between aggressive factors (such as gastric acid overproduction, NSAIDs overuse, Helicobacter pylori activity), and defensive mechanisms of the gastric mucosa is impaired. H. pylori is to blame for most ulcers as it declines the protective layer of the stomach and duodenum, leading to the sensitive tissue exposure and its’ destruction by digestive acids. Prolonged use of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen is a second most common origin of ulcers as they block prostaglandins and lead to serious damage of the mucosa. Read full text »