HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AND GASTROINTESTINAL-DISEASE

Helicobacter pylori infection is quite common. In the United States, p revalence varies considerably with race, nationality, socio-economic s tatus and location of residence. In Western countries, the prevalence of the infection has shown a steady increase with increasing age. H. p ylori has been shown to cause chronic gastritis. Most patients infecte d with H. pylori are asymptomatic and require no therapy. The precise role of the infection in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease is u nknown. However, H. pylori infection is associated with a high recurre nce rate of both gastric and duodenal ulcers. Eradication of the infec tion reduces the recurrence rate. Once H. pylori infection is acquired , it usually persists for years, possibly for the patient's lifetime. Although a causative role in gastric cancer has not been proved, evide nce suggests an association between H. pylori infection and well-diffe rentiated gastric adenocarcinoma and gastric lymphoma.