title: Helicobacter pylori and non-malignant diseases.
abstract: In recent years, the focus of Helicobacter pylori clinical research has been mainly on gastric malignancy. However, the role of H. pylori in non-malignant diseases, such as peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-ulcer dyspepsia, as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption, is still of great interest. A 1- to 2-week course of H. pylori eradication therapy is an effective treatment for H. pylori-positive peptic ulcer disease and a positive CagA status is a predictor for successful eradication of H. pylori. Antral prostaglandin-E2-basal levels appear to be critical for the development of aspirin-induced gastric damage in subjects without H. pylori infection. In clinical practice, among patients treated with proton-pump inhibitors, H. pylori status has no effect on the speed or degree of GERD symptom relief. For the management of dyspepsia in primary care, antisecretory therapy confers a small insignificant benefit compared to strategies based on H. pylori testing while these latter strategies may be cost-effective. H. pylori eradication therapy has a small but statistically significant effect on H. pylori-positive non-ulcer dyspepsia. An economic model suggests that this modest benefit may still be cost-effective but more research is needed.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rokkas
authors.forename: Ilkay
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Simsek
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ladas
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents