CURE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IMPROVES GASTRIC-ACID SECRETIONIN PATIENTS WITH CORPUS GASTRITIS

Background: For more than 30 years it has been known that gastric acid secretion is inversely related to the extent and severity of corpal g astritis. We therefore evaluated the effect of cure of Helicobacter py lori infection on basal and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion. Me thods: Basal acid output (BAG) and maximal acid output (MAO) were asse ssed in 11 H. pylori-infected dyspeptic patients (8 women and 3 men; m ean age, 28 years) before and after successful anti-H. pylori therapy. Results: The gastritis index was significantly lower after therapy an d was associated with an increase in both BAO and MAO after cure of th e H. pylori infection (BAG from 0.3 mmol/h to 3.1 mmol/h and MAO from 4.8 mmol/h to 19 mmol/h). Basal and stimulated acid concentrations als o increased (29.1 +/- 36.6 to 54 +/- 31 mmol/l and 72.5 +/- 46 to 120. 1 +/- 30 mmol/l, respectively, for basal and stimulated acid concentra tions; P < 0.05 for peak and MAO, P = 0.07 for BAG). Conclusion: Gastr ic acid secretion increased into the normal range after successful tre atment of H. pylori infection, suggesting that gastric function can re cover to normal or almost normal after cure of H. pylori infection.