Long-term effect after Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with peptic ulcer disease : A retrospective study / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Eradication therapy for H. pylori infection is known to decrease the recurrence rate of peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate longterm effect of H. pylori eradication on the recurrence of peptic ulcer disease and the reinfection rate after treatment in Korea. METHODS: Between July 1996 and February 1997, 763 patients who were diagnosed peptic ulcer diseases and H. pylori infection after upper endoscopies in Soonchunhyang university hospital. Among those patients, we reviewed 32 patients who achieved eradication of H. pylori after eradication therapy and could be followed for up to 4 years by (13)C-urea breath test or endoscopy. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 51.7 years (range 29~68). Nine patients had gastric ulcer, 12 had duodenal ulcer and 11 had duodenal and gastric ulcer. An annual reinfection rate of H. pylori was 1.6% in our study. After H. pylori eradication, recurrence of peptic ulcer was detected in three patients (9.4%). CONCLUSION: In our study, the reinfection rate was similar to rates observed in developed countries. H. pylori eradication was effective for preventing recurrent peptic ulcers.