[Rational therapy of peptic ulcers].

Prerequisites of rational conservative treatment of peptic gastroduodenal ulceration are rational diagnostics(endoscopy, histology, cytology), present state knowledge of peptic ulcer pathogenesis, and knowledge of the drug to be used. Treatment should aim at: pain relief, promotion of ulcer healing, prophylaxis of ulcer relapse including consideration of side-effects and costs of the drug, which should be minimal. At present, rational recommendations can be given only for the treatment of the acute ulcer attack but not as to prophylaxis of recurrences. Patients with uncomplicated peptic ulceration should be treated as outpatients, whereas in case of complications (penetration, perforation, bleeding of ulcers, symptoms of stenosis, dramatic pain, or particularly adverse living conditions at home) patients need hospitalization.