title: RECURRENCE RATE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN PATIENTS WITH PEPTIC ULCER FIVE YEARS OR MORE AFTER SUCCESSFUL ERADICATION.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infection with Helicobacter pylori is highly prevalent worldwide, especially in developing countries. Its presence in the gastroduodenal mucosa is related with development of peptic ulcer and other illnesses. The eradication of H. pylori improves mucosal histology in patients with peptic ulcers.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to verify if H. pylori recurrence occurs five years or more after confirmed eradication in patients with peptic ulcer. Moreover, we sought to determine the recurrence rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective and longitudinal, this study was based on a sample of 201 patients from western Paraná, Brazil. The patients were diagnosed with peptic ulcer disease, in the period of 1990-2000, and followed for five years or more after successful H. pylori eradication. Patients with early recurrence - prior to five years after eradication - were excluded from the sample.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During an average follow-up of 8 years, 180 patients (89.55%) remained negative, and 21 (10.45%) became positive for H. pylori infection. New ulcers appeared in two-thirds of the patients with H. pylori recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recurrence of H. pylori in patients with peptic ulcer can occur in the long-term - even if the infection had been successfully eradicated and the patients had remained free of recurrence in the first years of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Medicina, Faculdade Assis Gurgacz, Cascavel, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Yuri Costa Farago
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Hospital São Lucas, Faculdade Assis Gurgacz, Cascavel, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gabriel da Rocha
authors.initials: Gda R
authors.lastname: Bonatto
authors.affiliation: Escola de Medicina, Faculdade Assis Gurgacz, Cascavel, PR, Brasil.|Gastroclínica Cascavel. Cascavel, PR, Brasil.
authors.forename: Mauro Willeman
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bonatto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents