Do elevated blood calcium levels in patients with peptic ulcer facilitate perforation

Abstract

Aim: Calcium is primarily stored in bones in the body. The increase in blood calcium level due to primary or secondary causes leads to several impairments of the gastrointestinal system like anorexia, nausea-vomiting, peptic ulcer (PU), and abdominal pain. In this study, we want to compare and analyse the difference in blood calcium levels of patients who underwent surgery for peptic ulcer perforation (PUP) and those diagnosed with PU by endoscopy. Material and Methods: Between May 2012-January 2017, patientsÂ’ data for PU disease were recorded and our study was planned retrospectively Patients were sorted into two groups: Group1 included patients operated for PUP; and Group2 included the patients with administered medical therapy for PU disease. Blood calcium levels during admission, age, gender and drug history of patients were recorded. Study exclusion criteria were patients whose data were missing (113 patients), patients who had metabolic bone disease, patients who had been using calcium channel blockers and who were administered anti-ulcer drugs. Results: Twenty-eight patients had PUP and 176 patients had PU disease. Group 1 had a lower mean age (p=0.017), and higher male gender rate (p