The development of new blood vessels in humans in the postembryonal period may be physiological (the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, the formation of placenta, wound healing) or accompany such pathological
processes as neoplasms, proliferative retinopathy occurring in diabetes, chronic peptic ulcer disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, atheromatosis and rheumatoid diseases. Healing of chronic gastric and duodenal ulcers is assisted by growth factors, which stimulate the development
of granulation tissue. The growth factors involved in ulcer healing include basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α) epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). The aforementioned factors stimulate migration and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, and enhance mitotic divisions of fibroblasts – cells playing an important role in ulcer healing process. Both granulation tissue development and neoangiogenesis are enhanced by nitric oxide (NO/EDRF), which improves blood supply to the ulcer margins. The paper discusses also the effect of some drugs and tobacco smoking on angiogenesis in chronic peptic ulcer disease.

Keywords: chronic peptic ulcer disease, angiogenesis, FGF, TGF, PDGF, NO