Duodenal ulcer and eradication of Helicobacter pylori in a developing country. An 18-month follow-up study.
Forty-eight patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulcer (DU) and Helicobacter pylori infection detected by 14C-urea breath test (BT) were assigned to 5 days of treatment with furazolidone, metronidazole, and amoxicillin in addition to eventual classical anti-ulcer agents if necessary. Clinical evaluation and BT were repeated at 2, 6, and 18 months after therapy to determine H. pylori eradication or reinfection. Endoscopy was also repeated at 6 and 18 months after treatment to detect DU relapse. In 29 (60%) patients H. pylori had been eradicated at 2 months after therapy, and in 19 (40%) infection persisted. After successful eradication, 6 of 29 (20.7%) were reinfected. All 24 patients who were negative at the 18-month evaluation were asymptomatic, free of anti-ulcer drugs, and with healed ulcers, whereas among the 19 positive patients followed up, 11 (57%) continued to be symptomatic and still using anti-ulcer agents (p less than 0.010), and 10 (53%) showed active ulcers at endoscopy (p less than 0.010). H. pylori eradication is clearly followed by long-term remission of DU. Reinfection may be an additional problem in treating DU patients in developing countries.
Coelho
L G
LG
Gastroenterology, Nutrition, and Digestive Surgery Unit, University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Passos
M C
MC
Chausson
Y
Y
Costa
E L
EL
Maia
A F
AF
Brandao
M J
MJ
Rodrigues
D C
DC
Castro
L P
LP
D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D003906:Developing Countries; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004384:Duodenoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005664:Furazolidone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
D008795:Metronidazole; D005664:Furazolidone; D000658:Amoxicillin