BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of fungal colonizationon the course of gastric ulcer disease with particular regard to regression of clinical symptoms andreduction in ulcer niche size.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on the group of 293 patients,aged 20-80, with clinical symptoms of peptic ulcer disease, who attended Gastroenterology OutpatientDepartment of Collegium Medicum of Kraków Jagiellonian University. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinaltract was performed before and following a-4-week period of a standard anti-ulcerous treatment. Duringthe examination aspirate of the stomach contents and surface brushing were collected. Moreover, biopsyspecimens from the bottom of the ulcer or inflamed gastric mucosa were taken for mycological and histopathologicalexaminations. According to contemporary recommendations eradication treatment of Helicobacter pyloriwas introduced in urease-positive patients with endoscopy-proved gastric ulcer.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:The results of our research showed that fungal colonization of gastric ulcers impairs the course of ulcerhealing. Moreover, it results in clinical symptoms maintenance as compared with ulcers with non-significantfungal cells count.

Keywords: Candida, fungal colonization, gastric ulcer, ulcer healing dynamics