Risk factors of acute ulcer bleeding.

Peptic ulcer disease is the most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Most ulcers stop bleeding spontaneously; however, a poorer prognosis is indicated by clinical features such as severe bleeding, inability to clear gastric lavage, advanced age, and serious co-morbid illness. NSAID usage is an important risk factor particularly in the elderly population. Endoscopic stigmata of recent bleeding may provide the most helpful prognostic information which helps identify high risk patients and direct management specifically at preventing rebleeding in this cohort of patients.