[Potential risk of pharmacologically induced hypochlorhydria in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease]

Med Pregl. 1989;42(1-2):65-8.
[Article in Croatian]

Abstract

The introduction of the very potent anti-secretory ulcer-healing drugs that effectively inhibit gastric acid secretion actualized the problem of pharmacologically induced hypochlorhydria. Potential dangers of hypochlorhydria relate mainly to the observation that various microorganisms normally destroyed by gastric acid survive and proliferate in the stomach and small intestine and thus increase the risk of the serious gastrointestinal infections. It has been also suggested that the proliferation of the intragastric bacteria may convert dietary nitrate into nitrite that may be nitrosated to carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. Increased risks of nosocomial pneumonia or acute stress bleeding in ventilated intensive care unit patients become additional hazards during the treatment with antisecretory agents. Moreover, there is now evidence that after a course of treatment with antisecretory agents peptic ulcer recur more rapidly. Obviously, enthusiasm resulting of the great efficacy of antisecretory drugs in promoting ulcer healing must be hampered by previous considerations.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Ulcer Agents / adverse effects*
  • Gastric Acid / metabolism*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / etiology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Infections / etiology
  • Infections / microbiology
  • Peptic Ulcer / drug therapy*
  • Peptic Ulcer / metabolism
  • Peptic Ulcer / microbiology
  • Stomach / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Ulcer Agents