AN UPDATE ON HELICOBACTER-PYLORI

Since the rediscovery of Helicobacter pylori in the early 1980s, evide nce has begun to mount to support an etiologic role for this bacterium in the development of gastroduodenal disease and gastric cancer, Duri ng the past year, we have witnessed remarkable breakthroughs with rega rd to immunotherapy to prevent and perhaps cure chronic Helicobacter i nfection. These exciting discoveries have also been accompanied by an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of H. pylori and its relati onship to peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer, This review highlig hts many of the recent important developments published during the pas t year, It also examines new important information regarding the epide miology, transmission, and diagnosis of H. pylori infection and summar izes the advances made in understanding the role H. pylori plays in th e development of gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric cancer. The cumulative work demonstrates steady progress toward a more complet e understanding of this interesting gastric pathogen.