[Duodenal ulcer in young males]

A total of 730 young men aged 18 to 22 with peptic ulcer were examined, of them 670 (91.8%) with duodenal ulcer. The follow-up of most patients over time (starting from initial changes up to ulcer formation), a study of risk factors and catamnesis contributed to better understanding of pathogenesis and early diagnosis. Early diagnosis at the stage of acute ulcer (small sizes, weak changes of the gastroduodenal mucosa, high reparative properties and complete cicatrization within a short period) was made in 80% of the patients. In the young men with chronic ulcer (20%) a clinical picture was less typical, a course of disease was torpid, functional indices and reparative properties were on a decrease.