Clinical and histologic predictors of Helicobacter pylori infection recurrence

Factors influencing Helicobacter pylori infection recurrence still have not been fully clarified. The aim of this study was to determine whether, afte r eradication of H. pylori, any clinical or histologic features could yield information on infection relapse. We enrolled in the study 72 patients suc cessfully treated for H. pylori infection by either dual (n = 49) or triple (n = 23) therapy. H. pylori eradication was defined as a negative bacteria l finding by rapid urease lest and histologic assessment at least 4 weeks a fter cessation of therapy. Upon eradication, gastritis grading was performe d and patients were asked to return for an endoscopic control 6-8 months la ter. The recurrence of H. pylori infection was observed in 12 of 72 (16.7%) patients. The infection recurrence rate resulted significantly higher in n onulcer dyspepsia patients (p = 0.01) and in women (p = 0.03), whereas infe ction relapse did not differ between patients treated with dual or triple t herapy. There was a strong (p = 0.0001) relationship between the persistenc e of chronic active gastritis after H. pylori eradication and recurrence of infection, whereas gastritis grade and metaplasia were not related to recu rrence. In conclusion, this study found that H. pylori infection recurrence after successful dual or triple therapy is fairly high and that gastroduod enal disease, Sender, and gastritis activity seem to affect infection relap se.