Asymptomatic gastric ulcer: a follow-up study in patients with previous gastric ulcer disease.

40 patients with their first gastric ulcer diagnosed gastroscopically 4-8 years ago and who have not since undergone surgery for their ulcer disease or been on medical treatment for active ulcer were reexamined with endoscopy. In 22 patients one or more gastric ulcers were found. At the follow-up endoscopy, 14 of these patients were without dyspeptic complaints, 4 had minimal symptoms and did not need antacids, and 4 were taking antacids for the relief of dyspepsia. A high frequency of asymptomatic gastric ulcer in patients with previous symptomatic disease has not been reported before, and the natural course of gastric ulcer disease should be re-evaluated by long-term prospective studies.