THERAPEUTIC PRINCIPLES OF GASTROINTESTINAL ULCERATION

After reviewing the physiology of gastric acid secretion and gastric mucosal protection against autodigestion, this paper describes the pathomechanisms leading to gastrointestinal ulceration. The drugs currently used in veterinary medicine for the treatment of ulcerations of the upper digestive tract are presented individually, with emphasis on their mechanism of action, currently recommended dosage and possible side-effects. Histamine H-2 receptor blockers used alone or in conjunction with sucralfate are the cornerstone of the treatment of ulcerative conditions of the upper digestive system. In spite of the progress in the therapy of gastrointestinal ulcers, the elimination or prevention of factors predisposing to ulcerogenesis keeps a central importance.