[Gastroduodenal ulcer disease: therapeutic possibilities]

With the modern antisecretory drugs, healing of gastroduodenal ulcers can be achieved in almost every patient. If helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is treated successfully, relapse rates are reduced by up to 90%. Research on the ideal regimen for H. pylori eradication, i.e. short treatment with only few drugs, is still in progress. The combination of a proton pump inhibitor and a single antibiotic appears most promising. Proton pump inhibitors can successfully heal gastroduodenal ulcers associated with the intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), even if drug intake is continued. Ulcer prophylaxis in all patients taking NSAIDs is too expensive and should be restricted to patients with an increased risk for ulcer development.