1 Clinical Pharmacy Chapter Eight Peptic ulcer disease Rowa’ Al-Ramahi

2 DEFINITION Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) refers to a group of ulcerative disorders of the upper GI tract that require acid and pepsin for their formation. Ulcers differ from gastritis and erosions in that they extend deeper into the muscularis mucosa. The three common forms of peptic ulcers include: 1. Helicobacter pylori (HP)– associated ulcers. 2.NSAID–induced ulcers. 3.Stress-related mucosal damage (also called stress ulcers).

3 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY HP infection causes gastritis in all infected individuals and is causally linked to PUD. However, only about 20% of infected persons develop symptomatic PUD. Most non-NSAID ulcers are infected with HP, and HP eradication markedly decreases ulcer recurrence. HP may cause ulcers by direct mucosal damage, altering the immune/inflammatory response, and by hypergastrinemia leading to increased acid secretion. Nonselective NSAIDs (including aspirin) cause gastric mucosal damage by two mechanisms: (1) a direct or topical irritation of the gastric epithelium, and (2) systemic inhibition of the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) enzyme, which results in decreased synthesis of protective prostaglandins. Use of corticosteroids alone does not increase the risk of ulcer or complications, but ulcer risk is doubled in corticosteroid users taking NSAIDs concurrently.

4 Epidemiologic evidence links cigarette smoking to PUD, impaired ulcer healing, and ulcer-related GI complications. The risk is proportional to the amount smoked per day. Although clinical observation suggests that ulcer patients are adversely affected by stressful life events, controlled studies have failed to document a cause-and-effect relationship. Coffee, tea, cola beverages, beer, milk, and spices may cause dyspepsia but do not increase PUD risk. Ethanol ingestion in high concentrations is associated with acute gastric mucosal damage and upper GI bleeding but is not clearly the cause of ulcers.

5 CLINICAL PRESENTATION Abdominal pain is the most frequent symptom of PUD. The pain is often epigastric and described as burning but can present as vague discomfort, abdominal fullness, or cramping. A typical nocturnal pain may awaken patients from sleep, especially between 12 AM and 3 AM. Pain from DU often occurs 1 to 3 hours after meals and is usually relieved by food, whereas food may precipitate or accentuate ulcer pain in GU. Antacids provide rapid pain relief in most ulcer patients. Heartburn, belching, and bloating often accompany the pain. Nausea, vomiting, and anorexia are more common in GU than DU. Complications of ulcers caused by HP and NSAIDs include upper GI bleeding, perforation into the peritoneal cavity, penetration into an adjacent structure (e.g., pancreas, biliary tract, or liver), and gastric outlet obstruction.

6 DIAGNOSIS The hematocrit, hemoglobin, and stool hemoccult tests are used to detect bleeding. The tests that require upper endoscopy are invasive, more expensive, uncomfortable, and usually require a mucosal biopsy for histology, culture, or detection of urease activity. Serologic tests detect circulating immunoglobulin G directed against HP but are of limited value in evaluating posttreatment eradication. The urea breath test UBT is based on urease production by HP. Testing for HP is only recommended if eradication therapy is considered. Radiography may be the preferred initial diagnostic procedure in patients with suspected uncomplicated PUD. Upper endoscopy should be performed if complications are thought to exist or if an accurate diagnosis is warranted. If a GU is found on radiography, malignancy should be excluded by direct endoscopic visualization and histology.

7 TREATMENT NONPHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT Patients with PUD should eliminate or reduce psychological stress, cigarette smoking, and the use of nonselective NSAIDs (including aspirin). If possible, alternative agents such as acetaminophen, a nonacetylated salicylate (e.g., salsalate), or a COX-2 selective inhibitor should be used for pain relief. Although there is no need for a special diet, patients should avoid foods and beverages that cause dyspepsia or exacerbate ulcer symptoms (e.g., spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol).

8 PHARMACOLOGIC TREATMENT First-line eradication therapy for HP is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI)–based, three-drug regimen containing two antibiotics, usually clarithromycin and amoxicillin, reserving metronidazole for back-up therapy (e.g., clarithromycin– metronidazole in penicillin-allergic patients). The PPI should be taken 30 to 60 minutes before a meal along with the two antibiotics. Although an initial 7-day course provides minimally acceptable eradication rates, longer treatment periods (10 to 14 days) are associated with higher eradication rates and less antimicrobial resistance. First-line treatment with quadruple therapy using a PPI (with bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline) achieves similar eradication rates as PPI based triple therapy and permits a shorter treatment duration (7 days). However, this regimen is often recommended as second-line treatment when a clarithromycin–amoxicillin regimen is used initially. All medications except the PPI should be taken with meals and at bedtime.

9 If the initial treatment fails to eradicate HP, second-line empiric treatment should: (1) use antibiotics that were not included in the initial regimen; (2) include antibiotics that do not have resistance problems; (3) use a drug that has a topical effect (e.g., bismuth); and (4) be extended to 14 days. Thus, if a PPI–amoxicillin–clarithromycin regimen fails, therapy should be instituted with a PPI, bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline for 14 days. Treatment with a conventional antiulcer drug (e.g., PPI, histamine-2 receptor antagonist [H 2 RA], or sucralfate alone is an alternative to HP eradication but is discouraged because of the high rate of ulcer recurrence and ulcer- related complications. Dual therapy (e.g., H 2 RA plus sucralfate, H 2 RA plus PPI) is not recommended because it increases cost without enhancing efficacy. Maintenance therapy with a PPI or H 2 RA is recommended for high-risk patients with ulcer complications, patients who fail HP eradication, and those with HP-negative ulcers.

10 For treatment of NSAID-induced ulcers, nonselective NSAIDs should be discontinued (when possible) if an active ulcer is confirmed. Most uncomplicated NSAID-induced ulcers heal with standard regimens of an H 2 RA, PPI, or sucralfate if the NSAID is discontinued. If the NSAID must be continued, consideration should be given to reducing the dose or switching to acetaminophen, a nonacetylated salicylate, a partially selective COX-2 inhibitor, or a selective COX-2 inhibitor. PPIs are the drugs of choice when NSAIDs must be continued because potent acid suppression is required to accelerate ulcer healing. If HP is present, treatment should be initiated with an eradication regimen that contains a PPI. Patients at risk of developing serious ulcer-related complications while on NSAIDs should receive prophylactic cotherapy with misoprostol or a PPI. Patients with ulcers refractory to treatment should undergo upper endoscopy. HP-positive patients should receive eradication therapy. In HP-negative patients, higher PPI doses (e.g., omeprazole 40 mg/day) heal the majority of ulcers. Continuous PPI treatment is often necessary to maintain healing.

11 EVALUATION OF THERAPEUTIC OUTCOMES Patients should be monitored for symptomatic relief of ulcer pain as well as potential adverse effects and drug interactions related to drug therapy. Ulcer pain typically resolves in a few days when NSAIDs are discontinued and within 7 days upon initiation of antiulcer therapy. The persistence or recurrence of symptoms within 14 days after the end of treatment suggests failure of ulcer healing or HP eradication, or an alternative diagnosis such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. High-risk patients on NSAIDs should be closely monitored for signs and symptoms of bleeding, obstruction, penetration, and perforation. Follow-up endoscopy is justified in patients with frequent symptomatic recurrence, refractory disease, complications, or suspected hypersecretory states.

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