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- Stress ulcer → superficial lesion of mucosal layer of the stomach after traumatic event; can develop into deeper lesion with significant gastroduodenal bleeding (may occur within 1st 24h of ICU admission)
- Etiology: ↓ mucosal blood flow → ischemia → acid hypersecretion; due to excessive gastrin stimulation of parietal cells & alteration of normal protective mechanisms (epithelial turnover in gastric mucosa & change in mucus & bicarbonate secretion)
- Frequency of clinically important bleeding: 1–5%
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Treatment Goal: prevent clinically significant bleeding (hemodynamic compromise or need for blood transfusion)
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Pharmacological Treatment
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(Am J Health-Syst Pharm 1999;56:347)
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- H2-receptor antagonists (H2RA): famotidine, ranitidine, nizatidine, cimetidine
- MOA: inhibits gastric acid secretion by antagonizing the histamine-2 receptor on parietal cells; may have immunomodulatory effects
- Dose-limiting side effects: CNS toxicity (confusion, agitation, seizures); thrombocytopenia; ↑ rate of VAP (↓ risk vs PPIs); ↑ risk of C. difficile diarrhea (↓ risk vs PPIs; JAMA 2005;294:2989)
- Monitoring: renal dose adjustment; may develop tolerance with prolonged use
- Drug/drug interactions: cimetidine not recommended due to CYP450 interactions
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPI): esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole
- MOA: inhibition of proton pump in parietal cell, the final step in gastric acid production
- Dose-limiting side effects: thrombocytopenia, ↑ risk of C. difficile diarrhea, ↑ rate of VAP & CAP
- Drug/drug interactions: ↓ effectiveness of clopidogrel; ↓ atazanavir concentrations
- Sucralfate
- MOA: becomes polar at acidic pH & binds to granulation tissue of ulcer to form a protective layer on gastric mucosa; also stimulates prostaglandin production & modulates pepsin & mucus activity, arachidonic acid metabolism, bicarbonate secretion, & tissue growth & repair; does not ↑ gastric pH
- Dose-limiting side effects: ↑ serum aluminum concentrations in elderly, renal insufficiency; may contribute to ...