Severe Peptic Ulcers
Type: Symptom
Definition
Painful sores that develop on the inner lining of the stomach and upper small intestine.
Clinical Details
A frequent component of MEN1 is a gastrinoma, a tumor in the pancreas or duodenum that massively overproduces the hormone gastrin. The extreme levels of gastrin trigger the stomach to secrete massive, unchecked volumes of gastric acid (Zollinger-Ellison syndrome). This highly acidic environment rapidly burns through the mucosal lining, causing severe, bleeding ulcers.