Six-year follow-up after successful triple therapy for Helicobacter pyloriinfection in patients with peptic ulcer disease

Objective & Design We question whether Helicobacter pylori eradication in p eptic ulcer disease patients leads to a decrease in symptoms and reduced us e of anti-dyspeptic drugs. Therefore, the recurrence rate of H. pylori, upp er abdominal symptoms and the use of acid-suppressive drugs were determined 6 years after successful triple therapy. Methods Peptic ulcer disease patients successfully treated in 1990-1993 wit h 'classic' triple therapy were eligible. Patients were asked about symptom s and invited for a C-13-urea breath test or endoscopy in 1997-1998. Data o n the use of anti-dyspeptic drugs were obtained from the pharmacy or genera l practitioner. Results Of the 113 eligible patients, 90 could be included in the study. Th e mean follow-up time was 6 years (range 4.6-7.6 years). H. pylori infectio n recurred in one patient (recurrence rate: 0.19% per patient-year; 95% con fidence interval: 0.01-1.1%). Moderate or severe symptoms were experienced before therapy by 79% of the patients and after therapy by 18% of the patie nts (P < 10-7). Before triple therapy, 98% of the patients used H-2-recepto r antagonists and 54% were on maintenance treatment. 54% Conclusions Six years after successful triple therapy in peptic ulcer disea se patients, the recurrence rate of H. pylori infection is low and both sym ptoms and the use of anti-dyspeptic drugs have decreased significantly. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 13:1235-1239 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkin s.