Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
1991-10-17
pubmed:abstractText
It has long been assumed that the mucosa in areas of grossly 'healed' gastric or duodenal ulcers returns to normal, either spontaneously or after treatment. This assumption is based almost entirely upon visual, superficial examination by endoscopy. Few, if any, histological and ultrastructural studies examined the deeper mucosa in the areas of grossly healed ulcers. In several experimental studies, we analysed the development, evolution, and healing of acetic acid-induced gastric ulcers in rats and assessed the histological and ultrastructural features (structure and cellular composition) of the gastric mucosa in areas of grossly healed ulcers. The gastric mucosa of grossly 'healed' ulcers showed re-epithelialization of the mucosal surface at every study interval (2 weeks, 2, 3, and 4 months), but the subepithelial mucosa displayed prominent abnormalities. Two patterns of scarring were distinguished: (a) the mucosa in the area of healed ulcer was thinner (25-45% thinner than normal mucosa) with increased connective tissue and poor differentiation and/or degenerative changes in the glandular cells; and (b) the mucosa displayed a marked dilation of gastric glands with poor differentiation of the glandular cells and a reduction in the supportive microvascular network. It is theorized that these abnormalities could interfere with oxygenation, nutrient supply, and mucosal resistance and defence; therefore, they could be a basis for ulcer recurrence. These observations indicate that the quality of mucosal structural restoration rather than the speed of ulcer healing is the most important factor in determining risk of ulcer recurrence. The clinical relevance of these findings is supported by a preliminary study in which marked histological abnormalities were found in the subepithelial mucosa in patients with 'healed' duodenal ulcers.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0269-2813
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
5 Suppl 1
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
79-90
pubmed:dateRevised
2005-11-16
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1991
pubmed:articleTitle
Quality of gastric ulcer healing: histological and ultrastructural assessment.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, California 90822.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Review