Curling’s ulcer [Thomas B. Curling, English surgeon, 1811–1888] , a duodenal ulcer that develops in people who have suffered severe stress, such as superficial burns, intracranial lesions, or severe bodily injury. Curling first diagnosed it in patients who had severe burns. The pathophysiological characteristics include hypotension from shock, which decreases the blood supply to gastric mucosa, which leads to ischemia. Also called Curling’s stress ulcer.
