title: Maintenance therapy for peptic ulcer disease: an overview of medical treatment.
abstract: Peptic ulcer disease is a chronic disorder that manifests as recurrent episodes of pain or complications such as bleeding or perforation. Current medical therapy with H2-receptor blockers or sucralfate effectively prevents most recurrences and, according to clinical trials, may prevent complications. Since this treatment does not alter the natural history of peptic ulcer disease, continued therapy is needed. Surgical treatment does permanently alter the history of recurrence. Medical therapy aimed at eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection is an exciting new development and shows promise of a medical "cure" for peptic ulcer disease. However, many questions remain unanswered about this treatment. This review examines the natural history and long-term treatment of peptic ulcer disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ambulatory Care, Edward Hines, Jr, Hospital, Department of Veterans Affairs, Illinois 60141.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Schnell
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy*