Peptic Ulcer and Pulmonary Emphysema

Abstract

For a number of years various clinicians at this institution have been aware of a seemingly high incidence of peptic ulcer in patients with pulmonary emphysema. Little documentation of this association has appeared in the literature, and we have noticed that many physicians are not alert to it. Unrecognized peptic ulceration has been found at postmortem examination in patients with pulmonary emphysema, and in a few instances death has been due to complications of such ulceration. The present review was undertaken to determine the extent of this association in a large representative group of patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS Protocols of all patients with the diagnosis of chronic diffuse pulmonary emphysema hospitalized during the years 1950 to 1953 were reviewed. A total of 586 patients was included. Of these, 479 were studied clinically and 107 were autopsied. The clinical diagnoses were recorded at time of discharge by resident physicians and represent