HELICOBACTER-PYLORI COLONIZATION DOES NOT INFLUENCE THE SYMPTOMATIC RESPONSE TO PROKINETIC AGENTS IN PATIENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is very common, but the pathogenesis of Heli cobacter pylori leading to FD is still debated. The aim of this study was first to evaluate the impact of H. pylori colonization on the effi cacy of Paspertase(R) (a metoclopramide plus exogenous enzymes regimen for FD patients) and, second, to compare the prevalence of H. pylori infection in FD patients with the general population. Seventy-four con secutive FD patients were enrolled undergoing Paspertase(R) treatment. The symptomatic response was evaluated according to 1-4 scales of six main dyspeptic symptoms (i.e. epigastric pain/discomfort, early satie ty, heartburn, nausea/vomiting, abdominal fullness/bloating, and belch ing). Nine hundred and seventy healthy subjects undergoing a paid phys ical check-up were included to study the status of H. pylori colonizat ion. The demographic data and basal symptom scores between 43 H. pylor i-positive and 31 H. pylori-negative patients were not significantly d ifferent. Total and individual symptom scores improved significantly a fter 4 weeks of Paspertase(R) therapy (P < 0.05), irrespective of H. p ylori infection. The prevalences of H. pylori were very similar in FD patients and the general population (58.1 vs 58.0%, NS). In conclusion , these observations suggest that H. pylori colonization is not signif icant in FD patients of Taiwan while a short-term prokinetic medicatio n is effective for these patients, irrespective of H. pylori status.