LONG-TERM OMEPRAZOLE THERAPY DOES NOT AFFECT HELICOBACTER-PYLORI STATUS IN MOST PATIENTS

Fifty-one patients were treated with 20-60 mg omeprazole for reflux oe sophagitis resistant to H-2-blocker therapy during a mean of 49 months of follow-up. With use of a standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique specific IgG and IgG Helicobacter pylori antibodies we re determined in serum obtained at the start of therapy and at the mos t recent visit. At the start of therapy 26 patients (51%) had evidence of H. pylori infection, as demonstrated by increased IgG and IgA anti body levels. During follow-up, 4 of these 26 patients (15%) became H. pylori seronegative. It is concluded that long-term treatment with ome prazole has no effect on H. pylori status in most patients.