Small-Bowel Ulceration Apparently Associated With Thiazide and Potassium Therapy

Abstract

PRIMARY nonspecific ulceration occurring in the small intestine has been infrequent, if not rare. There have been about 170 cases reported in the world literature and only a smaller number have been well documented.¹ During a 15-month period from June 1, 1963, through Aug 31, 1964, twelve patients with ulcerating, predominantly stenosing and obstructing lesions of the small intestine have been treated on the surgical service of Hennepin County General Hospital. All of these lesions fit the general category of nonspecific small-bowel ulcers. Over the same period of time, the adult services at Hennepin County General Hospital treated 38 patients with either small-bowel obstruction, perforation, or hemorrhage (Table 1). In this group there were 12 patients with a simliar pathologic process constituting almost one third of the total number of cases. Since this type of nonspecific ulcer has previously been considered rare, we were understandably concerned with this unusual