Úlcera duodenal benigna con penetración en cabeza de páncreas, con obstrucción de la vía biliar / Benign duodenal ulcer penetrating into pancreas, with obstruction of common bile duct

Resumen Objetivo: Reportamos un caso clínico con presentación atípica de una úlcera duodenal benigna que simula el cuadro clínico y radiológico de una neoplasia de páncreas. Materiales y Método: Presentamos el caso de un varón de 83 años que debuta con un cuadro clínico de astenia e ictericia mucocutánea. En estudio de imagen se identifica una masa en cabeza pancreática. En estudio endoscópico se observa úlcera duodenal benigna penetrada a cabeza de páncreas que condiciona obstrucción de vía biliar. Discusión y Conclusiones: El manejo de estos pacientes suele ser quirúrgico porque desarrollan un deterioro asociado a sepsis o perforación. Si la situación clínica lo permite se puede intentar un tratamiento conservador. En nuestro caso el paciente precisó un mes de hospitalización con antibioticoterapia intravenosa de amplio espectro, reposo alimentario, nutrición parenteral y tratamiento con inhibidores de la bomba de protones (IBP) para la resolución del cuadro. La penetración o fistulización a la cabeza del páncreas es una complicación grave e infrecuente de la enfermedad ulcerosa péptica. Su manejo puede ser conservador en casos seleccionados donde no exista perforación de la úlcera a la cavidad peritoneal, ni exista deterioro séptico ni hemodinámico.

Aim: To report an atypical presentation of a benign duodenal ulcer that simulates pancreatic neoplasia. Materials and Method: A case of a 83 years old male patient with astenia and jaundice due to a benign duodenal ulcer penetrating into the pancreas with obstruction of common bile duct. Imagining study identified a pancreatic head mass. The patient required one month admission, receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics, parenteral nutrition and intravenous proton pump inhibitors. Discussion and Conclusion: Due to frequent complications associated to this condition, such as haemodynamic failure, sepsis or free peritoneal perforation, surgery is the main treatment. However, in mild cases, as in our patient, conservative management can be considered. Penetration or fistulization to the head of the pancreas is a rare and serious complication of peptic ulcer disease. Its management can be conservative in selected cases where there is no perforation of the ulcer into the peritoneal cavity, nor septic or hemodynamic deterioration.

Ulcères gastriques et duodenaux à Cotonou: aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, endoscopiques et thérapeutiques

L'ulcère gastrique ou duodénal (UGD) est une affection plurifactorielle. Une prévalence de 16,6% en avait été rapportée en 2005 au Bénin. Le but de notre étude est de décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, endoscopiques et thérapeutiques des UGD observés de nos jours à Cotonou. Patients et méthodes : Il s'agissait d'une étude prospective, transversale, descriptive et analytique. Elle a colligé du 1er octobre 2015 au 30 avril 2016, tous les sujets de plus de 15 ans ayant présenté un UGD à l'endoscopie dans les services des maladies digestives de l'hôpital de Zone de Mènontin et de l'hôpital d'Instruction des Armées de Cotonou. Résultats : Sur 411 patients inclus, 30 avaient un UGD soit une prévalence de 7,3 %. Les ulcères duodénaux étaient observés chez des sujets jeunes avec un âge moyen de 38 ± 6,9 ans ; tandis que les ulcères gastriques étaient observés chez des sujets plus âgés avec un âge moyen de 58 ± 7 ans. La sex-ratio était de 2,8. Les épigastralgies étaient la principale manifestation présente dans 70% des cas. La localisation de l'ulcère était gastrique dans 36,7%, duodénale dans 53,3 %, double dans 10% des cas. Les principales causes étaient la consommation de médicaments gastro-toxiques et l'Helicobacter pylori. Les Inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons étaient prescrits dans tous les cas et l'éradication de l'Helicobacter pylori faite dans 94,7% des cas avec une évolution favorable à 2 mois de contrôle. Conclusion : la prévalence des UGD a diminué de plus de 50% en onze ans à Cotonou. L'amélioration du niveau d'hygiène et la sensibilisation contre l'automédication pourraient davantage contribuer à réduire cette prévalence

First case of Helicobacter pylori infection resistant to seven antibiotics in Iran

Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection with common antibiotics is typically recommended for several digestive conditions, including peptic ulcers. However, reports of resistant H. pylori isolates are increasing, and unfortunately, these do not respond to currently available therapeutic regimens. We report the case of a 31-year-old woman with two peptic ulcers in the duodenal antrum. An H. pylori strain was isolated, and tested for antibiotic resistance using agar dilution and disk diffusion. The isolated strain was found to be resistant to all seven antibiotics that were tested. Therefore, constant monitoring for antibiotic resistance should be performed prior to initiating antibiotic therapy.

Pharmacological efficacy of argemone mexicana plant extract, against cysteamine-induced duodenal ulceration in rats.

Objective: The plant Argemone mexicana is traditionally used as diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal agent, and has wound-healing property. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of A. mexicana aerial part of the plant (methanolic and aqueous extract p.o.) on duodenal ulceration. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on the duodenal ulceration model by using cysteamine hydrochloride. Ranitidine (20 mg/kg) was used as standard drug. Results: Both the extracts of the plant A. mexicana produced a significant activity in cysteamine-induced duodenal ulceration. The aqueous extract at the dose-dependent manner showed the potent activity than methanolic extract. Conclusion: The plant A. mexicana Linn. Increased healing of gastric ulceration and prevented the development of experimentally induced duodenal ulceration in rats.

Short-duration furazolidone therapy in combination with amoxicillin, bismuth subcitrate and omeprazole for eradication of helicobacter pylori

Resistance to metronidazole is one of the most common reasons for Helicobacter pylori treatment failure with the classic triple therapy. The clarithromycin-based regimen is not cost-effective for use in developing countries. Though furazolidone is a great substitute it has many side effects. Decreasing the duration of treatment with furazolidone to 1 week may help decrease the drug's side effects. to study the efficacy and side effects of furazolidone when given for 1 week in combination with bismuth subcitrate, amoxicillin, and omeprazole. One hundred and seventy-seven patients with duodenal ulcer were randomly divided into two groups. Group I received omeprazole 2 x 20 mg + amoxicillin 2 x 1 g + bismuth subcitrate 4 x 120 mg for 2 weeks, with furazolidone 2 x 200 mg in the first week only. Group II received the same regimen, except that 1 week of furazolidone was followed by 1 week of metronidazole in the second week. Control endoscopy was performed after 6 weeks. Three biopsies from the antrum and three from the corpus were taken for urease testing and histology. Eradication was concluded if all tests were negative for H pylori. One hundred and fifty-seven patients completed the study. Two subjects from group I and three from group II did not tolerate the regimen and were excluded from the analysis. No serious complication was detected in any patient. The eradication rates by per-protocol [PP] analysis and intention-to-treat [ITT] analysis were 89% and 79.3% in group I and 86.6% and 74.4% in group II, respectively. One week of furazolidone in combination with 2 weeks of amoxicillin, omeprazole, and bismuth subcitrate is a safe and cost-effective regimen for the eradication of H pylori. Adding metronidazole to the above regimen does not increase the eradication rate

A Case of Acute Esophageal Necrosis with Gastric Outlet Obstruction / 대한소화기학회지

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN) is a very rare disorder typically presenting as a diffuse black esophageal mucosa on upper endoscopy. For this reason, AEN is often considered to be synonymous with 'black esophagus'. The pathogenesis of entity is still unknown. We report a case of AEN with duodenal ulcer causing partial gastric outlet obstruction. A 53-year-old man presented with hematemesis after repeated vomiting. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed circumferential black coloration on middle 315 to lower esophageal mucosa that stopped abruptly at the gastroesophageal junction. Pyloric ring deformity and active duodenal ulceration with extensive edema was observed. After conservative management with NPO and intravenous proton pump inhibitor, he showed clinical and endoscopic improvement. He resumed an oral diet on day 7 and was discharged. In our case the main pathogenesis of disease could be accounted for massive esophageal reflux due to transient gastric outlet obstruction by duodenal ulcer and following local ischemic injury.

Emergency operations for bleeding duodenal ulcer: a simple option to consider: Case report

We report a 46 years-old man who had severe bleeding from a posterior duodenal ulcer [DU] that was diagnosed but could not be treated endoscopically in another health facility. He went into shock as he was being admitted to the casualty at Khartoum North Teaching Hospital [KNTH]. His haemoglobin [Hb] dropped to five gram/dl. He required resuscitation and transfusion of six units of blood overnight. Emergency surgery was performed. Over sewing [OS] of the ulcer was done and the stenosed first part of duodenum was closed transversely [pyloroplasty]. No acid-reducing procedure [ARP] was done. The patient received anti- helicobacter therapy via the intravenous route preoperatively and continued postoperatively. This was later given orally after he started taking by mouth. He made an uneventful recovery with no recurrence of bleeding and was discharged home one week latter. Endoscopy was done at KNTH six weeks later. This showed complete healing of the ulcer with no evidence of Helicobacter pylori in the biopsies taken. We found simple OS of the bleeding DU together with anti-helicobacter therapy safe, efficient, and not associated with re-bleeding. We discuss the rationale of this simple treatment. We propose the need for a randomized controlled study comparing it with acid-reducing procedure [ARP] as options in the surgical treatment of bleeding DU

Giardia lamblia trophozoites in gastric biopsies.

To assess the prevalence of gastric giardiasis in gastric biopsies of patients with carcinoma stomach and in patients taking treatment for duodenal ulcer. Gastric biopsy specimens from 54 patients of carcinoma stomach and 100 antral biopsies from patients taking treatment for duodenal ulcer were included in the study. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin, methylene blue and May Grunwald-Giemsa stains and examined for presence of Giardia lamblia trophozoites. Eight out of 54 (14.9%) biopsies of gastric carcinoma patients harboured trophozoites of Giardia lamblia. Associated H. pylori infection was present in all biopsies (8/8; 100%). Atrophy and intestinal metaplasia was present in 62.5% (5/8) and 25% (2/8) cases respectively. Sections from seven out of 35 patients (20%) taking treatment for duodenal ulcer showed presence of G. lamblia. H. pylori infection, gastritis and atrophy were found in 85.7% (6/7), 71.4% (5/7) and 28.6% (2/7) cases respectively. First gastric biopsy in these patients was negative for G. lamblia but 2nd and 3rd biopsies were positive. A careful search for G. lamblia trophozoites should be made while examining the gastric biopsies, especially in patients with carcinoma stomach, intestinal metaplasia, atrophic gastritis and those taking treatment for duodenal ulcer. This may help in indirect diagnosis of clinically unsuspected cases of intestinal giardiasis and may explain persistence of vague upper gastrointestinal tract (UGIT) symptoms despite clearance of H. pylori in patients on anti-ulcer therapy.

Úlcera péptica gastroduodenal e infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori na criança e adolescente / Gastroduodenal peptic ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents

OBJETIVO: Apresentar aspectos relevantes relativos à úlcera péptica gastroduodenal e à infecção pelo Helicobacter pylori na criança e adolescente. FONTES DOS DADOS : Livros técnicos e bases de dados MEDLINE e LILACS de 1966 a 2006. SíNTESE DOS DADOS : A úlcera péptica na criança e adolescente pode ser primária, associada à infecção pelo H. pylori, ou secundária, na qual os mecanismos etiopatogênicos dependem da doença de base. A infecção é adquirida predominantemente na infância, com taxas de prevalência que variam de 56,8 a 83,1 por cento nas crianças que vivem nas regiões mais pobres do Brasil e de aproximadamente 10 por cento nas crianças abaixo de 10 anos de idade nos países desenvolvidos. A infecção pode ser diagnosticada por métodos invasivos, que investigam a presença da bactéria, ou de DNA, RNA ou produtos bacterianos em fragmentos de biópsia da mucosa gástrica obtida à endoscopia; também pode ser diagnosticada através de métodos não-invasivos, que compreendem a pesquisa de anticorpos anti-H. pylori em amostras de soro, urina ou saliva, a pesquisa de antígenos da bactéria nas fezes e o teste respiratório com uréia marcada com carbono-13. O método de escolha para o diagnóstico da úlcera péptica é a endoscopia digestiva alta, com a vantagem adicional de, durante o procedimento, permitir a obtenção de fragmentos de mucosa gástrica para o diagnóstico da infecção e estudo histopatológico. CONCLUSÕES: A infecção por H. pylori é a principal causa de úlcera péptica na infância. A erradicação da bactéria com antimicrobiano é acompanhada de cura da doença, sendo, portanto, indicada em todas as crianças H. pylori-positivas com úlcera péptica em atividade, recorrente, cicatrizada ou complicada.

OBJECTIVE: To show important aspects of gastroduodenal peptic ulcer and of Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents. SOURCES: Technical textbooks and MEDLINE and LILACS databases including publications between 1966 and 2006. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS : The etiology of peptic ulcer in children and adolescents may be primary, associated with H. pylori infection, or secondary, in which etiopathogenic mechanisms rely upon the underlying disease. The infection is acquired predominantly in childhood, with prevalence rates between 56.8 and 83.1 percent in children who live in the poorest Brazilian regions, amounting to nearly 10 percent in children aged less than 10 years in industrialized countries. The infection can be diagnosed by invasive methods, which investigate the presence of the bacterium, or of DNA, RNA or bacterial products in biopsy fragments of the gastric mucosa obtained at endoscopic examination; it can also be diagnosed through noninvasive methods, which include the detection of anti-H. pylori antibodies in serum, urine or saliva samples, detection of bacterial antigens in stool samples, and the carbon 13-labeled urea breath test. However, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the method of choice for the diagnosis of peptic ulcer, as it allows collecting fragments from the gastric mucosa during the procedure for the diagnosis of infection and for histopathological analysis. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection is the major cause of peptic ulcer among children. Eradication of the bacterium with antimicrobial therapy results in the cure of the disease, and is therefore indicated for all children with H. pylori infection with an active, recurrent, healed, or complicated peptic ulcer.

Antioxidant activity of hydroalcoholic leaf extract of ocimum sanctum in animal models of peptic ulcer.

In the present study, a hydroalcoholic extract of ocimum sanctum leaves has been investigated for its antioxidant activity in animal models of peptic ulcer with the aim of exploring a possible correlation between its antioxidant and antiulcer activities. Gastric ulcers were produced in rats by ethanol treatment and pyloric ligation whereas duodenal ulcers were produced in guinea pigs by histamine treatment. The animals were divided into six groups of six animals each in all these three models of peptic ulcer. Group I served as diseased control in which distilled water (10 ml/kg) orally was administered as placebo. Group II, III and IV received the test drug (ocimum sanctum leaf extract) in doses of 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/ kg respectively orally once daily for 7 days. Group V was administered ranitidine (10 mg/kg orally) once daily for 7 days and served as standard for comparison. Group VI consisted of healthy control for baseline malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. The antioxidant activity was by evaluated estimating plasma MDA in ethanol treated rats and histamine treated guinea pigs and estimating SOD in pyloric ligated rats and histamine treated guinea pigs. In ethanol treated rats, ocimum sanctum leaf extract (100 mg/kg & 200 mg/kg) significantly decreased the levels of MDA to 2.45 +/- 0.29 nmole/ml and 2.40 +/- 0.14 nmole/ml respectively in comparison to 4.87 +/- 0.06 in the diseased control. Similarly, in the histamine treated guinea pig group, the same doses of the extract significantly lowered the levels of MDA to 2.45 +/- 0.12 nmole/ml and 2.37 +/- 0.16 nmole/ml respectively when compared to 4.66 +/- 0.11 in the diseased control. The extract (100 mg/kg & 200 mg/ kg) also increased the levels of SOD in pyloric ligated rats to 1.78 +/- 0.12 U/ml and 1.89 +/- 0.08 U/ml respectively when compared to 1.29 +/- 0.06 U/ml in the diseased control. In the histamine treated guinea pig group also, the same doses of the extract produced a rise in the SOD levels to 2.10 +/- 0.11 U/ml and 2.20 +/- 0.14 U/ml respectively when compared to 1.32 +/- 0.07 in the diseased control. Since lowered levels of MDA and increased levels of SOD signify antioxidant activity, the antiulcer activity of ocimum sanctum might be due to this mechanism.

Tumores estromales gastrointestinales duodenales: Report of one case / Duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Report of one case

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are lesions whose diagnosis and treatment have varied in the last decade. We report a 76 year-old male with a history of eight episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. A duodenography showed an elevated lesion in the third portion of the duodenum with a central ulceration. It was initially managed with tumorectomy and primary closure of the duodenum. The pathological study of the surgical specimen revealed a low grade gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Three years later, the tumor recurred and pancreatoduodenectomy was performed. Due to the high risk of malignant potential, tumor size, number of mitoses and the presence of necrosis, imatinib mesylate was started. The patient had a satisfactory evolution, without evidences of recurrence after 15 months of follow up.

Desmodium gangeticum: a potent anti-ulcer agent.

The present study was designed to investigate anti-ulcerogenic property of ethanolic extract of Desmodium gangeticum (DG) against cold restraint (CRU, 2 hr cold restraint stress), aspirin (ASP, 150 mg/kg orally), alcohol (AL, absolute alcohol 1 ml/200gm) and pyloric ligation (PL, 4 hr pylorus ligation) induced gastric ulcer models in Sprague Dawley rats, and histamine (HST, 0.25 mg/kg) induced duodenal ulcer in guinea pigs. We found that DG at a dose of 200mg/kg, (orally), markedly decreased the incidence of ulcers in all the above models. DG showed significant protection against CRU (68.37%), AL (88.87%), ASP (38.2%), PL (40.63%) and HST (63.15%) induced ulcer models, whereas standard drug omeprazole (OMZ) showed protection index of 83.86, 56.35, 70.31 and 84.21%, respectively in CRU, ASP, PL and HST models. Sucralfate as standard drug showed 92.64% protection in AL model. DG significantly reduced acid secretion 41.61%, whereas OMZ produced 43.13% reduction. Treatment with DG showed increase in mucin secretion by 56.17%, whereas OMZ showed 12.45% increase. Anti-ulcer effect of DG may be due to its cytoprotective effect along with antisecretory activity and could act as a potent therapeutic agent against peptic ulcer disease.

The impact of Helicobacter pylori resistance on the efficacy of a short course pantoprazole based triple therapy

BACKGROUND: Many of the currently used Helicobacter pylori eradication regimens fail to cure the infection due to either antimicrobial resistance or poor patient compliance. Those patients will remain at risk of developing potentially severe complications of peptic ulcer disease. AIM: We studied the impact of the antimicrobial resistance on the efficacy of a short course pantoprazole based triple therapy in a single-center pilot study. METHODS: Forty previously untreated adult patients (age range 20 to 75 years, 14 males) infected with Helicobacter pylori and with inactive or healing duodenal ulcer disease were assigned in this open cohort study to 1 week twice daily treatment with pantoprazole 40 mg, plus clarithromycin 250 mg and metronidazole 400 mg. Helicobacter pylori was assessed at entry and 50 ± 3 days after the end of treatment by rapid urease test, culture and histology of gastric biopsies. The criteria for eradication was a negative result in the tests. Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to clarithromycin and metronidazole was determined before treatment with the disk diffusion test. RESULTS: One week treatment and follow up were complete in all patients. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori was achieved in 35/40 patients (87.5 percent) and was higher in patients with nitroimidazole-susceptible strains [susceptible: 20/20 (100 percent), resistant: 10/15 (67 percent)]. There were six (15 percent) mild adverse events reports. CONCLUSIONS: A short course of pantoprazole-based triple therapy is well tolerated and effective in eradicating Helicobacter pylori. The baseline metronidazole resistance may be a significant limiting factor in treatment success.

Diagnosis and eradication of helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulceration in the community

To determine the value of Helicobacter pylori [Hp] serology in diagnosis of active Hp infection in patients with documented duodenal ulcer [DU] and to directly compare the efficacy and side-effects profiles of metronidazole or tinidazole in a triple therapy regimen to eradicate active Hp infection. Prospective, single-blinded, randomised trial. One hundred patients from General Practice with documented DU and Hp seropositivity had a C14 Urea Breath Test [UBT]. Those who tested positive were randomised to receive one-week, twice daily omeprazole 20 mgs and clarithromycin 250 mgs in combination with metronidazole 400 mgs [OCM] or tinidazole 500 mgs [OCT]. Eradication was confirmed by a repeat UBT. Eighty five sero-positive patients had a positive pre-treatment UBT. On intention to treat basis, OCT [100%] had a significantly better eradication rate than OCM [87.8%], p = 0.023. There was no difference in side effects. [1] Positive Hp serology in patients with DU does not always mean active infection and [2] for patients in the community with active Hp and DU disease OCT is significantly better than OCM for eradicating Hp

Efficacy of Triple Therapy with Rabeprazole for Helicobacter pylori Infection in relation to CYP2C19 Genotype / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 CYP2C19 influences the efficacy of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy. We investigated the difference in the cure rates of H. pylori infection by triple (rabeprazole plus amoxacillin and clarithromycin) therapy in relation to CYP2C19 genotype status. METHODS: One hundred and sixteen H. pylori infected patients with gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer completed the triple therapy with 10 mg of rabeprazole b.i.d., 1,000 mg amoxacillin b.i.d. and 500 mg of clarithromycin b.i.d. for one week. The genotype of CYP2C19 was determined by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: According to the univariate analysis, heterozygous extensive metabolizers (hetero EMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs) showed the highest (87.0%) and the lowest (80.0%) eradication rates, respectively. The difference in the therapeutic efficacy of rabeprazole among the different CYP2C19 genotypes was insignificant. With regard to gender, age and smoking history in relation to eradication rate, a statistical significance was noted only with age with odds ratio of 1.063 and p-value of 0.0202. CONCLUSIONS: In the eradication therapy of H. pylori, no statistically significant difference in therapeutic efficacy of rabeprazole was found among different CYP2C19 genotypes.

Management strategies for duodenal ulcer in India in the helicobacter pylori era: an economic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Duodenal ulcer (DU) is widely prevalent in India. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is considered to be the most cost-effective first-line therapy for DU in patients without a historyof use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Western investigators recommend initial empirical anti-H. pylori therapy for such patients. However, in India similar recommendations are lacking due to the absence of appropriate clinical studies. METHODS: An economic analysis for the management of DU with particular attention to H. pylori infection was performed using a decision analysis model. Three treatment strategies for DU diagnosed at index endoscopy were evaluated: in strategy I, anti-secretory therapy alone was administered for 8 weeks; in strategy II, a urease test and histological examination for H. pylori was performed at the time of initial endoscopy and subsequent management was based on the result of these tests; and in strategy III, empirical triple therapy for possible H. pylori infection was considered. Costs per patient treated were the outcome variables compared among the three strategies. RESULTS: In the baseline analysis, the cost per patient managed with initial anti-secretory therapy alone was Rs 544, cost of performing the urease test and histological examination at the time of initial endoscopy and subsequent treatment was Rs 692, and strategy III of empirical triple therapy for H. pylori yielded a cost per patient of Rs 523. Sensitivity analysis with a wide range of clinical probabilities and cost estimates and a second-order Monte Carlo simulation supported the conclusions of the baseline analysis. CONCLUSION: Initial empirical triple therapy followed by anti-secretory therapy is the most cost-minimizing approach for the treatment of endoscopically documented DU in India.

Efectos de la erradicación de helicobacter pylori sobre el reflujo gastroesofágico patológico en pacientes con úlcera duodenal / Evolution of gastroesophageal reflux disease after eradication of helicobacter pylori in patients with duodenal ulcer

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is not a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease and it could even be a protector factor. Aim: To study the relationship between H pylori eradication and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with duodenal ulcer. Patients and methods: One hundred eleven patients with duodenal ulcer and treated for H pylori infection were studied. In 96 patients, H pylori was successfully eradicated and were evaluated every four months with endoscopy, during the first year. Thereafter, an annual clinical assessment was performed and endoscopy was repeated only if clinically indicated. Results: Patient were followed for a mean of 41 months (range 4 months to 6 years). Twelve patients (10.8 percent) had esophagitis at recruitment and in nine, H pylori was eradicated. The frecuency of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms or esophagitis in this group was similar to the rest of patients. During the first year, the frecuency of reflux symptoms ranged from 9 to 19 percent. The frecuency of esophagitis persisted at about 10 percent, although 81 percent of patients with esophagitis did not have it on recruitment. After the first year, the frecuency of reflux symptoms declined significantly to about 8 percent. Conclusions: In these patients with duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease had a variable evolution after H pylori eradication