title: [Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastroesophageal reflux in patients with duodenal ulcer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Helicobacter pylori infection is not a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease and it could even be a protector factor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between H pylori eradication and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with duodenal ulcer.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eleven patients with duodenal ulcer and treated for H pylori infection were studied. In 96 patients, H pylori was successfully eradicated and were evaluated every four months with endoscopy, during the first year. Thereafter, an annual clinical assessment was performed and endoscopy was repeated only if clinically indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient were followed for a mean of 41 months (range 4 months to 6 years). Twelve patients (10.8%) had esophagitis at recruitment and in nine, H pylori was eradicated. The frequency of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms or esophagitis in this group was similar to the rest of patients. During the first year, the frequency of reflux symptoms ranged from 9 to 19%. The frequency of esophagitis persisted at about 10%, although 81% of patients with esophagitis did not have it on recruitment. After the first year, the frequency of reflux symptoms declined significantly to about 8%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In these patients with duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease had a variable evolution after H pylori eradication.
authors.affiliation: Depto. Gastroenterología, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Casilla 114-D, Santiago-Chile. rollan@med.puc.cl
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rollán
authors.forename: Rossana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giancaspero
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fuster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies