Influence of cure of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric acidity and gastroesophageal reflux: study by 24-h pH monitoring in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer.
BACKGROUND
Whether or not the eradication of Helicobacter pylori is a risk factor for reflux esophagitis (RE) is a question at issue. To find an answer, it is necessary to clarify the influence of H. pylori eradication on the mechanism of RE.


METHODS
The authors investigated the influence of H. pylori eradication on gastric acidity and gastroesophageal reflux in ten gastric ulcer (GU) patients and ten duodenal ulcer (DU) patients by 24-h simultaneous determination of pH in the stomach and esophagus.


RESULTS
Though the results indicated enhanced gastric acidity in GU patients at night after H. pylori eradication, no such influence was observed in DU patients. No significant changes in gastroesophageal reflux occurred in GU or DU patients before and after H. pylori eradication. RE after H. pylori eradication occurred in only one patient, with GU. This patient had several risk factors for RE, such as obesity, male sex, and dietary habits to add to the increase in gastric acidity at night that occurred after H. pylori eradication. No increase in gastroesophageal reflux occurred in any DU patients or in the other GU patients that demonstrated enhanced gastric acidity at night after H. pylori eradication.


CONCLUSIONS
The cure of H. pylori infection does not, by itself, cause RE in patients who have few other risk factors for RE.
Fukuchi
Takumi
T
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, 2-10-39 Shibata, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0012, Japan.
Ashida
Kiyoshi
K
Yamashita
Hiroshi
H
Kiyota
Naomi
N
Tsukamoto
Reiko
R
Takahashi
Hajime
H
Ito
Dai
D
Nagamatsu
Ryousuke
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents