THE TREATMENT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

Indications for eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection have wide ned since the National Institutes of Health consensus conference in 19 94. It is argued that they should now include infected patients with n onulcer dyspepsia, those concerned about the risk of gastric cancer, p atients with gastric lymphoma, and those requiring long-term treatment with a proton pump inhibitor, Problems with existing clinical trials are discussed, and the results of different treatment regimens are dis cussed, It is proposed that future eradication trials should investiga te H. pylori-infected subjects identified by serology, rather than ulc er patients, and that eradication is proved only by a pair of C-13-ure a breath tests.