Eradication therapy in Helicobacter pylori-positive patients with halitosis: long-term outcome.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence and long-term outcome of halitosis before and after eradication therapy in patients with functional dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori infection.


METHODS
Halitosis and dyspepsia-related symptoms were investigated by way of a questionnaire. Only patients with functional dyspepsia, H. pylori infection and no histological evidence of atrophy were included in the study. A total of 18 patients fulfilled these criteria and completed the study. Four to six weeks after the end of eradication treatment, endoscopy or [(13)C] breath test was performed to check for H. pylori in the gastric mucosa. Halitosis and dyspeptic symptoms were re-evaluated during and at the end of follow-up.


RESULTS
H. pylori infection was eradicated in all patients, in the 14/18 patients (77.8%) with triple drug therapy, and the 4/18 patients (22.2%) with quadruple drug therapy. During the follow-up period (mean 55.8 +/- 21.3 months (range 6-108 months)) resolution of halitosis was observed in 16/18 patients (88.9%), while 2 patients (11.1%) (p < 0.001) continued to present with halitosis. Also, eradication therapy resulted in statistically significant relief of all dyspeptic symptoms, except bloating.


CONCLUSIONS
Eradication of H. pylori in patients with functional dyspepsia and halitosis results in sustained resolution of halitosis during long-term follow-up in the majority of cases. This finding supports the existence of a link between H. pylori infection and halitosis and suggests that H. pylori eradication might be considered in patients with halitosis.
Katsinelos
Panagiotis
P
Department of Endoscopy and Motility Unit, G. Gennimatas General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. papaziog@med.auth.gr
Tziomalos
Kostas
K
Chatzimavroudis
Grigoris
G
Vasiliadis
Themistoklis
T
Katsinelos
Taxiarchis
T
Pilpilidis
Ioannis
I
Triantafillidis
Ioannis
I
Paroutoglou
George
G
Papaziogas
Basilis
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001944:Breath Tests; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006209:Halitosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D000658:Amoxicillin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole