HELICOBACTER-PYLORI - 200 PATIENTS WITH A FOLLOW-UP OF 5 YEARS - AN OBSERVATION ENDOSCOPIC STUDY

Objectives: As data on the long-term effects of Helicobacter pylori in fection are limited, our aim was to review patients seen repeatedly at endoscopy with biopsies for a minimal period of 5 years. Methods: The records of 200 patients who had at least two endoscopic examinations with antral biopsies and touch cytology (imprints from biopsies) with an interval of at least 60 months between the first and the last endos copy. Helicobacter pylori diagnosis was based on the smear. Results: A t the first endoscopy, 57% had Helicobacter pylori on the smear, 70% h ad chronic gastritis on biopsy. During a mean follow-up of 70 months, a colonization rate of 3% per year and an eradication rate of 1% per y ear were observed. Helicobacter pylori status remained unchanged in 89 %. During follow-up, duodenal ulcer was diagnosed at endoscopy in 21 p atients, with a significantly (p <0.05) higher frequency in Helicobact er pylori positive patients, in the presence of gastritis and in men. In two patients, the sequence of colonization and later duodenal ulcer was observed. Conclusion: Our retrospective observation study based o n endoscopy confirms the chronicity of Helicobacter pylori infection a nd the low incidence of colonization and eradication. Duodenal ulcer o ccurred more frequently in Helicobacter pylori positive patients.