HISTORY OF THE TREATMENT OF BLEEDING GASTRODUODENAL ULCERS

Abstract

Bleeding gastroduodenal ulcers are a serious medical issue and, together with their treatment, have a long history. However, the discovery of Helicobacter pylori, the main cause of ulcers, and H₂-receptor antagonists as well as the advances in endoscopy have greatly improved the treatment of ulcer. We have made great progress and gastroduodenal ulcers have gone from being a life-threatening condition to a controllable disease. However, the population in Japan is aging and the background of ulcer development has changed dramatically. Even with the increased focus on the detection and treatment of cancer, gastroduodenal ulcers remain an important disease today because of the aging population. Herein, we review the history of gastroduodenal ulcer treatment over the last quarter of a century.