[The effect of large doses of corticosteroids on stomach ulcer formation: a new hypothesis].

A new hypothesis is suggested according to which the ulcerogenic effect of large corticosteroid doses is regarded as a consequence of suppression of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical system (HPAS) function. On the 7-th day after the administration of a large hydrocortisone dose to rats the HPAS block was observed. The HPAS block increased the area of hemorrhagic damages of the stomach mucosa induced by a stress factor. Similar data on the ulcer formation were obtained when using intrahypothalamic administration of dexamethasone. The replacement therapy decreased the effect of HPAS block in both cases. The data show that the stomach ulcer formation after the administration of high corticosteroid doses occurs as a result of endogenous hormone production insufficiency.