DOES SMOKING INFLUENCE THE ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AND DUODENAL-ULCER HEALING WITH DIFFERENT REGIMENS

To determine the effect of smoking on Helicobacter pylori eradication and ulcer healing, we investigated 232 patients with H. pylori-positiv e duodenal ulcer. Patients were given one of seven different treatment protocols and divided into three groups according to smoking habits, Group 1 (n=128) consisted of non-smokers, group 2 (n=65) of mild smoke rs (5-20 cigarettes/day) and group 3 (n=39) of heavy smokers (>20/day) . The eradication of H. pylori and ulcer healing rate was controlled e ight weeks later after ceasing the therapy, The overall eradication ra te was 66% in all patients and 68%, 66%, 59% in each group, respective ly. The eradication rates showed no statistical difference between gro ups. Complete ulcer healing was achieved in 84% of ail patients and ul cer healing rate between groups did not show any significance (85%, 83 % and 82% respectively), These results suggest that smoking status doe s not influence the eradication of H. pylori and duodenal ulcer healin g rates at eight weeks in patients on different treatment schedules.