After the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection, relapse is a serious problem in Turkey

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is strongly recommended i n duodenal and gastric ulcer. In developed countries the recurrence rate is low; however, in Turkey, the Hp recurrence rate is suspected to be high as the prevalence of Hp infection is-as high as 70-80% in the asymptomatic po pulation. We planned this study to determine the relapse rate of Hp infecti on after successful eradication therapy in Turkey. Fifty-two cases includin g 24 patients with duodenal ulcer and 28 patients with nonulcer dyspepsia w ere examined in this study. The eradication regimen was omeprazole 20 mg tw ice daily, clarithromycin 500 mg twice daily, and metronidazole 500 mg thre e times a day for 1 week. All patients underwent upper gastrointestinal tra ct endoscopy. At least four samples from antrum and corpus were taken to en able histologic diagnosis of Hp infection. After the eradication therapy, e ndoscopy was repeated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and Hp-positive patients w ere dropped from study. With the use of this regimen, the Hp eradication ra te was 92.3% (48/52). After the eradication of Hp infection, relapse rates were 6.97%, 27.5%, and 11.11% at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. The cum ulative relapse rate for 1 year was 41.46%. The results of this study revea led that after the eradication of Hp infection, recurrence is encountered v ery often as a problem in Turkey. We concluded that hygienic and environmen tal factors can affect these high relapse rates.