The medical treatment of peptic ulcer disease

There is continued interest in the role of H. pylori in both uninvestigated and non ulcer dyspepsia. The literature on this issue provided interesting , if at times conflicting findings, leaving the clinician with little choic e but to use clinical judgment when dealing with these patients. On the The rapeutic front, a "new" proton pump inhibitor, with impressive early effica cy data has been launched, while an IV proton pump inhibitor formulation ha s reached a number of markets. Emerging data on the use of potent acid supp ression in especially GI bleeding will almost certainly impact on the use o f these agents. The gastrointestinal effects of low dose aspirin use have r eceived attention, while the COX1-sparing agents have now started to impact on clinical practice. Two large clinical outcomes studies with these agent s have been published. Both indicate at least some benefit, but raise inter esting questions with regard to the use of these agents in the clinical set ting. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2001, 17:497-502 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.