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Peptic ulcer and pregnancy

Four cases and a review of the literature

  • Published:
The American Journal of Digestive Diseases

Summary

It has been believed for many years that during pregnancy peptic ulcer rarely appears, rarely flares up and often heals.

Gastric acidity tends to be decreased during pregnancy, but theories of mechanical and humoral factors producing this decrease are vague.

Four clinical cases of ulcer complicating pregnancy are reported, of which two, with no previous ulcer history, had serious episodes of hemorrhage.

We believe that obstetricians should not feel safe in view of the reported rarity of the co-existence of peptic ulcer and pregnancy, but should study carefully all case of persistent heartburn, epigastric distress, etc., in their patients, as peptic ulcers may produce serious complications during or shortly after pregnancy.

It is felt the number of ulcers observed in pregnancy may increase if the obstetrician is impressed with their possible co-existence and keeps this in mind, when obstetric patients complain of symptoms that may be due to pregnancy as well as to peptic ulcer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chicago, Ill.

    S. P. Bralow M.D., S. Scheinberg M.D. & H. Necheles M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.P.

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  1. S. P. Bralow M.D.
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  2. S. Scheinberg M.D.
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  3. H. Necheles M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.P.
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Additional information

From the Department of Gastro-Intestinal Research Medical Research Institute of Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago.

Aided by a grant from the Nelson Morris Fund.

The Department is in part supported by the Michael Reese Research Foundation.

We are obligated to Drs. L. Bloch, M. Parker, W. Rubovits and H. Sapoznik for letting us use their records.

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Bralow, S.P., Scheinberg, S. & Necheles, H. Peptic ulcer and pregnancy. Jour. D. D. 15, 137–141 (1948). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03001395

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