Anatomy of an Ulcer

When we eat, food passes down the esophagus (throat) and into the stomach. There hydrochloric acid and pepsin (an enzyme) begin the digestive process. Next, food passes to the duodenum (small intestine) where the digestive process continues. An ulcer is an area of stomach or duodenum that has been destroyed by the digestive enzymes and stomach acid.

How H. pylori causes ulcers is not yet fully understood. Researchers do know the following:

• H. pylori bacteria can live in the stomach because they produce an enzyme that stops the corrosive effects of stomach acid.
• H. pylori's spiral shape allows it to get into the protective mucous layers of both the stomach and the duodenum.
• H. pylori can also weaken the stomach and duodenum by attaching to cells. This further weakens the stomach and duodenum's defense system.
• About 20% of people under the age of 40 have H. pylori in their digestive tracts, and 50% of people 60 or older have H. pylori.
• Not everyone who harbors the H. pylori bacteria will develop an ulcer.
• Being infected with H.pylori is a risk factor for developing stomach cancer.

An ulcer that goes untreated can cause several problems in the abdomen Problems include:

• Internal bleeding
• Perforation (a hole) in the stomach or duodenum allowing food and bacteria to spill into the abdomen and cause infection
• Blockage of the opening between the stomach and duodenum due to chronic inflammation that leads to swelling and scarring

Discovering the Causes of Ulcers

The story behind the discovery of the H. pylori bacteria and its relationship to ulcers is an unusual one. In 1982, two Australian researchers, Drs. Barry Marshall and Robin Warren, detected H. pylori in the stomach lining of people suffering from gastritis. When further study demonstrated the presence of H. pylori in nearly 100% of patients with duodenal ulcers and 80% of people with stomach ulcers, Drs. Marshall and Warren proposed that H. pylori might be the cause.

When their hypothesis was met with a great deal of skepticism, Dr. Marshall ingested a teaspoonful of H. pylori bacteria. Within 24 hours, he developed severe gastritis. Further research by Dr. Marshall, Dr. Warren, and others established that H. pylori does in fact cause 50% of stomach ulcers and 90% of the much more common duodenal ulcers.

Of the 10-20% of ulcers that are not caused by H. pylori bacteria, most are caused by NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxyn sodium. NSAIDs block the production of mucous in the stomach that protects the lining from the damaging effects of the stomach acid.

The Telltale Burn    TOP

The most common symptom of an ulcer is a chronic burning pain localized in the upper part of the abdomen. The pain is usually between the breastbone and the naval that can last from minutes to hours. Pain often recurs in the middle of the night, upon waking, and/or 2-3 hours after a meal. It may be relieved by eating or taking antacid medications such as Tums. Less common symptoms include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting (can be bloody or appear like coffee grains)
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Bloody or black stool (caused by bleeding from the ulcer)
• Weakness (caused by bleeding from the ulcer)

Diagnosis    TOP

It's important that ulcers be properly diagnosed because the symptoms common to ulcers can also be caused by a number of other conditions. In addition, ulcers caused by H. pylori and those caused by NSAID are treated somewhat differently.

Two most commonly used tests for diagnosing an ulcer:

• Upper GI series —x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are taken after you drink a chalky substance that outlines the shape of the digestive tract. This test is 75-90% accurate in diagnosing ulcers.
• Endoscopy —an examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum via a small, flexible, camera-containing, tube-like instrument inserted through your throat. This test is approximately 95% accurate. During this test, tissue biopsies are taken of any suspicious lesion or ulcer.

Once an ulcer is diagnosed, a test for the presence of H. pylori is done to determine whether the ulcer is caused by H. pylori bacteria. Several methods exist for detecting H. pylori. A test for presence of H. Pylori bacteria may include a blood test to detect antibodies to the bacteria, a breath test that examines byproducts of the bacteria, or a laboratory analysis of the biopsied tissue sample. These tests differ in sensitivity for detecting the presence of bacteria in your system.

Removing the Offending Agent    TOP

Treatment involves removing the underlying cause of the ulcer and healing the ulcer. Dr. Stanley Rosenberg, gastroenterologist at Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center explains.

"If NSAID use is suspected as the cause, especially if no H. pylori bacteria is detected, the patient will be directed to stop all NSAID use and to take a substitute medication, such as prescription strength Tylenol®.

However, if H. pylori is suspected as the cause, antibiotics are the first line of treatment. There are eight regimens approve by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of H. pylori infection. The most effective treatments employ multiple drugs—usually three or four in combination.

One common treatment involves taking two antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria (usually metronidazole and tetracycline) daily for two weeks, along with an acid suppressor and sometimes also a bismuth-containing stomach lining shield (Pepto-Bismol or other similar brands). This method works effectively over 90% of the time and works to kill the bacteria, heal the ulcer, and prevent recurrence. It may cause a number of side effects, including:

• Stomach upset
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Metallic taste in the mouth
• Dark stools
• Yeast infections in women

Two drug treatments such as omeprazole, which reduces stomach acid, in combination with amoxicillin (an antibiotic) may be less expensive, easier to tolerate, and causes fewer side effects than “triple” or “quadruple” drug therapy. However, two drug treatments are less effective (by up to 80%) than more complex three or four drug treatments

Healing the Ulcer    TOP

Dr. Rosenberg explains that a number of drugs can be prescribed that either reduce or temporarily eliminate stomach acid, while the antibiotics kill the bacteria in addition to soothing and healing the ulcer. These include:

Finally, many patients also take antacids to neutralize stomach acid and/or Pepto-Bismol, which both coats the stomach and duodenum lining and helps fight the H. pylori bacteria.

Steering Clear of Ulcers    TOP

To prevent NSAID-caused ulcers, try to avoid using NSAIDs in large doses for long periods of time. Unfortunately, researchers don't yet know how to prevent the development of H. pylori bacteria in the digestive tract. Some recommended precautions are to wash hands thoroughly after using the bathroom and before eating, and to make sure to drink water from a clean source, since H. pylori is transmitted from person to person through close contact and exposure to body fluids such as vomit. An H. pylori vaccine is currently being studied.