Future trends in the management of peptic ulcer disease.

Future trends in the short- and long-term management of peptic ulcer disease are considered. The present state of development of pharmacologic agents for the short-term healing of duodenal and gastric ulcer is impressive, and high rates of healing with rapid symptom relief can be safely achieved with several agents. The problem of ulcer recurrence has not been solved, although new work concerning the role of Campylobacter pylori holds promise. The mortality of acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage remains unacceptably high, especially in the elderly. Therapeutic endoscopy may be effective in decreasing the death rate from bleeding.