Gastric and duodenal ulcers during pregnancy

The frequency, symptoms, and complication rate of peptic ulcer disease appear to decrease during pregnancy significantly. Clinicians, however, often have to treat dyspepsia or pyrosis of undetermined cause because the frequency of pyrosis increases during pregnancy. Physicians are reluctant to perform esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) during pregnancy for pyrosis to reliably differentiate gastroesophageal reflux from peptic ulcer disease. Dyspepsia or pyrosis during pregnancy first should be treated with dietary and lifestyle changes, together with antacids or sucralfate. When symptoms persist, H2 receptor-antagonists are recommended. If symptoms continue and are severe despite these interventions, the patient should be evaluated for possible EGD or proton pump inhibitor therapy during the second or third trimester.