title: Helicobacter pylori and functional dyspepsia: an unsolved issue?
abstract: Patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may complain of dyspeptic symptoms without presence of macroscopic lesions on gastroduodenal mucosa. Such a condition is usually recognized as functional dyspepsia, and different pathogenetic mechanisms are involved. The role of H. pylori in these patients is controversial. Several trials assessed the potential role of H. pylori eradication in improving dyspeptic symptoms, and data of some meta-analyses demonstrated that cure of infection is associated with a small (10%), but significant therapeutic gain as compared to placebo. The reason for which dyspeptic symptoms regress in some patients following bacterial eradication, but persist in others remains unclear. Regrettably, trials included in the meta-analyses are somewhat different for study design, definition of symptoms, assessment of symptoms changes, and some may be flawed by potential pitfalls. Consequently, the information could be not consistent. We critically reviewed the main available trials, attempting to address future research in this field.
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Francesco
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Repici
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manta
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomao
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Annibale
authors.affiliation: Angelo Zullo, Cesare Hassan, Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "Nuovo Regina Margherita" Hospital, 00153 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaira
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Dyspepsia; Helicobacter pylori; Pathogenesis; Symptoms; Therapy
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