[Incidence of peptic ulcer in an inpatient angiologic patient sample]

Incidence of peptic ulcers in hospitalized patients with arterial occlusive disease without history or clinical symptoms of ulcer disease was 32% and four times higher than in patients with acute phlebothrombosis. Possible etiological factors could be: decreased blood perfusion of gastric or duodenal mucosa because of generalized arteriosclerosis, intake of ulcerogenic drugs, chronic abuse of nicotine, and stress due to the underlying arterial occlusive disease. Patients with inflammatory vascular disease are affected as often as are patients with arteriosclerotic disease. Routine endoscopic examination of the upper GI-tract should be performed in such patients in order to exclude potential bleeding sources before treatment with fibrinogen lowering drugs is started.