Abstract
The mucosal prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels in the fundus, the pyloric antrum and the margin of ulcers were determined in patients with gastric ulcer. In some intractable gastric ulcers, the mucosal PGE2 levels were extremely low. To assess the effect of PGE2 on the management of intractable gastric ulcer, PGE2 was perorally given in daily doses of 3.0 mg to 10 patients suffering from intractable ulcer, and in 6 (60%), the ulcer healed completely within 4 to 14 weeks. These results suggest that a deficiency in mucosal PGE2 plays a role to make ulcer intractable to heal. Therefore, PGE2 administration may be benefitial in such cases.
