The vascular component in the causal genesis of peptic ulcer

T he vascular component in the causal genesis of peptic ulcer has been somewhat overshadowed in the literature by the very large number of papers which have supported other factors as playing the predominant role in the development of this condition. In a very large number of papers hydrochloric acid has been for a long time, and is at the present time, held to be chiefly responsible. 28 However, infection,60 heredity,39 nutritional disturbances,57p 66p 67 allersY,ll hormonal imbalance,lTl 21r 24 psychosomatic conditions,30 age, sex, occupation, season, and a wide variety of other factors have been implicated.259 w 68 Nevertheless, there is considerable evidence, both clinical and experimental, that the vascular factor is important in the development of the ulcer and particularly in its almost specific localization. In an attempt to evaluate the role of a vascular factor in the causal genesis of peptic ulcer, 2 working hypotheses were evolved which could be tested experimentally.