Helicobacter pylori and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

More data are now available on the putative interaction between Helicobacte r pylori infection and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but results of epidemiological studies and therapeutic trials are still conflic ting. While cohort studies reveal that H. pylori infection does not influen ce the incidence of gastroduodenal ulcers in subjects receiving NSAIDs, a r ecent meta-analysis of case-control studies shows a twofold increase of the ulcer prevalence in infected NSAID users when compared to noninfected user s. Furthermore, some studies suggest a protective role for infection in NSA ID users against ulcer complications, particularly bleeding. While it is no w well established that H, pylori infection has a positive effect on the he aling rates of NSAID-associated gastric ulcers treated by antisecretory dru gs, the role of eradication therapy in the management of NSAID gastropathy is Still debated. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 15 (suppl 1):S61-S65 (C) 1999 Lip pincott Williams & Wilkins.