Peptic ulcer disease, which may refer to either gastric or duodenal ulcer, is a common disease affecting the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (1). The normal stomach maintains a balance between the protective factors (i.e. mucus and bicarbonate secretion, blood flow) and aggressive factors (i.e. acid secretion and pepsin). Ulcers develop when aggressive factors overcome the protective mechanism causing inflammatory injuries in either the gastric or upper duodenal mucosa, with