THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA AND HELICOBACTER-PYLORIINFECTION

Aim: To assess the possibility of a causal link between Helicobacter p ylori infection and functional dyspepsia. Method: Survey of recent stu dies. Results: Functional dyspepsia is a common clinical syndrome that has many possible pathogenic factors, including increased visceral pe rception, H. pylori infection and gastrointestinal motor disorders. H. pylori infection and gastrointestinal motor disorders identify two di fferent subgroups of dyspeptic patients with somewhat different clinic al features, but the contribution made by each type of disorder to the clinical symptoms is unknown. Conclusion: At present there is insuffi cient epidemiological and pathophysiological evidence to show whether H. pylori is a cause of symptoms of dyspepsia.