title: Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan: current status and future options.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The combination of the high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Japan and the availability of methods to diagnose and treat the infection suggest that elimination of the infection from the population might be beneficial. Therefore we reviewed the epidemiology, consequences and possible benefits of elimination of H. pylori in Japan.
  
  
  RESULTS
  H. pylori infection has been etiologically linked to peptic ulcer disease, gastric carcinoma and gastric B-cell lymphoma. The cumulative risk of those with H. pylori infection for developing peptic ulcer disease is 15-20%, with 0.01-0.1% developing gastric carcinoma. Twenty to thirty per cent of those infected suffer mortality or morbidity related to H. pylori infection. Recommendations were made concerning the elimination of this infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eradication of H. pylori should largely eliminate peptic ulcer disease with all its costs and complications, while rapidly changing the risk of developing gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimoyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takemoto
mesh_terms: D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control