Treatment of peptic ulcer disease in the Helicobacter pylori era.

ABSTRACT

All patients with gastroduodenal ulcer disease should be tested and treated for Helicobacter pylori whether the ulcer is active or in remission. The rapid urease test, being the most commonly available, is the test of choice in our country. It is prudent to do H. pylori serology in the case of bleeding ulcers. Physicians should choose the regimen with the greatest efficacy regardless of costs. Bazzoli's low-dose triple therapy seems to be an excellent choice from our experience. Outside study protocols, routine checking for ulcer healing and eradication of H. pylori is recommended only for complicated ulcers. However, symptomatic patients need to be re-investigated with endoscopy and rapid urease test.