title: Helicobacter pylori reinfection rate 3 years after successful eradication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is one of the most prevalent human infections and has been implicated as a predisposing factor in gastric cancer, chronic active gastritis, duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer and gastric lymphoma. Reinfection after successful eradication is quite uncommon in adults. In the only study carried out in Iran, a reinfection rate of 19.1% after 1 year has been reported. We studied the rate of reinfection 3 years after successful HP eradication.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who had undergone HP eradication 3 years before the study and had successful eradication verified by a negative (14)C urea breath test (UBT) 1 year after eradication were invited to complete a questionnaire and undergo another UBT. In addition, spouses and the offspring of those testing positive were offered an UBT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-eight patients were enrolled (49% male). Mean age was 44 +/- 13 years (range: 18-75 years). Twenty patients (20.4%) had a positive UBT. Epigastric burning (25%vs 69%) and pyrosis (50%vs 67%) were seen less commonly in those who were HP free at 3 years compared to those who tested positive for HP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our data, in our region the HP reinfection rate is 20.4% 3 years after successful eradication.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shariati Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zendehdel
authors.forename: Siavosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nasseri-Moghaddam
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Malekzadeh
authors.forename: Sadegh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massarrat
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sotoudeh
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Siavoshi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001944:Breath Tests; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015995:Prevalence; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D014508:Urea; C002791:bismuth tripotassium dicitrate