title: Does Helicobacter pylori infection eradication modify peptic ulcer prevalence? A 10 years' endoscopical survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare peptic ulcer prevalence in patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in two Italian hospitals in pre-Helicobacter era and ten years after the progressive diffusion of eradication therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We checked all the endoscopic examinations consecutively performed in the Gastroenterology Unit of Padova during 1986-1987 and 1995-1996, and in the Gastroenterology Unit of Parma during 1992 and 2002. Chi Square test was used for statistic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from both the endoscopic centers showed a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of ulcers: from 12.7% to 6.3% (P<0.001) in Padova and from 15.6% to 12% (P<0.001) in Parma. The decrease was significant both for duodenal (from 8.8% to 4.8%, P<0.001) and gastric ulcer (3.9% to 1.5%, P<0.001) in Padova, and only for duodenal ulcer in Parma (9.2% to 6.1%, P<0.001; gastric ulcer: 6.3% to 5.8%, NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ten years of extensive Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) eradication in symptomatic patients led to a significant reduction in peptic ulcer prevalence. This reduction was particularly evident in Padova, where a project for the sensibilization of H pylori eradication among general practioners was carried out between 1990 and 1992. Should our hypothesis be true, H pylori eradication might in the future lead to peptic ulcer as a rare endoscopic finding.
authors: Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche, Sezione di Gastroenterologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Parma, v. Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy.
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: Nervi
authors: Stefania
authors: S
authors: Liatopoulou
authors: Lucas-Giovanni
authors: LG
authors: Cavallaro
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Gnocchi
authors: Nadia
authors: N
authors: Dal-Bo
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Rugge
authors: Veronica
authors: V
authors: Iori
authors: Giulia-Martina
authors: GM
authors: Cavestro
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Maino
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Colla
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Franze
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Di Mario