Helicobacter pylori of the remnant stomach and its eradication

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many authors have reported that Helicobacter pylori (H. py lori) is one of the major causes of gastritis and peptic ulcer. This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of H. pylori infection and the cura tive effects of amoxicillin and omeprazole on H. pylori in the remnant stom ach. METHODOLOGY: Biopsy specimens were obtained from 70 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. H. pylori was subsequently diagnosed by CLO test and culture of H. pylori. Gastritis was assessed by the scoring of fo ur characteristic pathological parameters. Patients with positive H. pylori were eligible for the eradication study. Amoxicillin, 750mg per day for 2 weeks, and omeprazole, 20mg per day for 8 weeks, were administered to them. Endoscopic reexamination was performed 12 weeks after the initiation of tr eatment. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of H. pylori was 37.1%; 39.6% in Billrot h I reconstruction, 0% in Billroth II reconstruction, and 55.6% in pylorus preserving gastrectomy, respectively. The positive H. pylori rate of Billro th II reconstruction was significantly low. However, there was no associati on of positive rate of H. pylori with time. There was no significant differ ence of gastritis scores between H. pylori-infected patients and non-infect ed patients. The eradication rate was 70.0%. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori was present in 37.1% of patients who underwent gastr ectomy. Gastritis was not significantly severe in H. pylori infected patien ts. The treatment with amoxicillin and omeprazole was effective for these p atients.