ulcer

a disintegration of the surface of the skin or a mucous membrane resulting in an open sore that heals very slowly

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

ulcer

[′əl·sər]

(medicine)

Localized interruption of the continuity of an epithelial surface, with an inflamed base.

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Ulcer

a defect in the skin or mucous membrane resulting from tissue necrosis. Ulcers are frequently chronic in course and nonhealing, for example, trophic ulcers of the skin. They may be caused by prolonged mechanical (friction, pressure), thermal, chemical, and other actions on tissues, as well as by trophic disturbances of the nervous system, specific and nonspecific infections (tuberculosis, syphilis, leprosy, typhoid), and decomposition of a tumor. The development of an ulcer may also be fostered by metabolic disorders (for example, diabetes mellitus), chronic poisoning, vitamin deficiency, endocrinous disturbances, and exhaustion.

Ulcers vary in shape (round, oval, stellate), depth, and size. The base of an ulcer may be covered by granulations, a purulent deposit, or necrotic tissue. Deeply penetrating ulcers are dangerous because they destroy the walls of blood vessels and cause hemorrhages. If the course of the disease is favorable, the regenerative process is dominant and scarring occurs; however, recurrences are possible.

Treatment is directed toward curing the main disease. Physical therapy and any one of a variety of topical ointments and dressings may be prescribed. Surgery is required in refractory cases.

R. B. KAVTELADZE

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References in periodicals archive

'Despite existing treatment options, there is a substantial proportion of patients with moderate to severe ulcerative colitis who do not respond to available therapies and for whom there is a great medical need for new treatment options.

InDex Pharmaceuticals meets primary endpoint in the phase IIb study CONDUCT with cobitolimod in ulcerative colitis

Health care providers should avoid prescribing tofacitinib for patients who may have a higher risk of thrombosis, and use tofacitinib at the lowest effective dose or limit the duration of the 10 mg twice daily dosage when treating ulcerative colitis.

FDA: Blood Clot, Death Risk Up With Higher Dose of Tofacitinib; Increased risk seen with 10 mg dose of tofacitinib used for treating ulcerative colitis

There's currently no cure for ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

What is inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)?

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic disease caused by inflammation of the large intestine and the symptoms are characterised by blood- and mucus-mixed diarrhea, frequent stools, abdominal pain, fever, weight loss and anemia.

InDex Pharmaceuticals admits last patient in Phase IIb Study CONDUCT evaluating cobitolimod for ulcerative colitis

Among patients with ulcerative colitis, more moderate use of strong opioids (one to three prescriptions annually) also significantly correlated with all-cause mortality (HR, 2.

Opioids linked to mortality in inflammatory bowel disease

There were four deaths during the entire tofacitinib ulcerative colitis program, for an incidence rate of 0.2 per 100 person-years of exposure.

Tofacitinib raised herpes zoster risk in ulcerative colitis

Patients diagnosed with ulcerative colitis during childhood had 2.5-times higher risk of developing cancer and a 3.7-times higher risk of dying during follow-up compared with the general population.

Inflammatory bowel disease during childhood linked to higher cancer rates: Study

"Janssen's expertise and experience from multiple clinical development programs in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, across a range of mechanisms of action, will be important in the development, regulatory, and commercial path forward for this program."

Theravance, J&J Ink $1B Deal for Inflammatory Drug

If ulcerative colitis is suspected, the next step will be a flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, which allows the doctor to visualize the interior of the large intestine and take tissue samples for analysis.

Understanding Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are both IBDs, but there are important differences

Thirty-three patients with ulcerative colitis at the age between 23 and 59 years old were collected from the Department of Gastroenterology of the General Hospital of Shenyang Military of China from July 2016 to April 2017.

Decreased Breg/Th17 Ratio Improved the Prognosis of Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Medicines used to treat ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease include: immunosuppressants to reduce the activity of the immune system and biologics - specific antibodybased treatments given by injection and antibiotics.

MINUTES ON; Inflammatory bowel disease

They said he "has the guts to go where others won't and speaks out about his struggle with ulcerative colitis, so he deserves some glory".

Guts and glory go to Fletch