The incidence of reflux oesophagitis after cure of Helicobacter pylori in a Japanese population

Aim: To investigate the incidence of reflux oesophagitis after antibacteria l therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in our patient population. Methods: Subjects were 451 a H. pylori-infected patients (primary symptom: peptic ulcer disease in 347, nonulcer dyspepsia in 100, and reflux oesophag itis in four); 11 of these patients had reflux oesophagitis on study entry. H. pylori infection was treated by a proton pump inhibitor/amoxycillin-cla rithromycin regimen for either 7 or 14 days. Each patient was examined by e ndoscopy before treatment and more than 6 months after treatment to compare oesophageal findings. In addition, 227 patients were interviewed regarding reflux symptoms, using symptom questionnaires, before and more than 6 mont hs after treatment. Results: Among 440 patients who did not have reflux oesophagitis prior to a ntibacterial treatment (340 peptic ulcer patients and 100 nonulcer dyspepsi a patients), 23 patients whose infection was eradicated developed reflux oe sophagitis (5.4%). The 11 patients who had reflux oesophagitis prior to tre atment were all successfully cured of infection. Six of these patients show ed no change in their oesophagitis, while the condition improved in three a nd worsened in two. Symptom scores improved in 34 of the 36 patients who re ported reflux symptoms. Among 19 patients who showed persistent infection, only one developed reflux oesophagitis (5.2%), while none complained of new ly developed symptoms following treatment. Conclusions: Development of reflux oesophagitis after treatment of H. pylor i infection was observed in a Japanese population. However, the incidence o f this condition was comparable between those with persistent H. pylori inf ection and those in whom the infection was eradicated.