The Effect of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on the Recurrence of Duodenal Ulcer in Patients with the Duodenal Ulcer Scar

Kim, Sang Gyun; Kim, Joo Sung; Kim, Tae Ho; Lee, Kook Lae; Lee, Dong Ho; Jung, Hyun Chae; Song, In Sung

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication is known to be effective in preventing the recurrence of duodenal ulcer. However, there is no prospective study about the effect of H. pylori eradication on the ulcer recurrence in the scar stage of duodenal ulcer. We evaluated whether the H. pylori eradication can reduce the ulcer recurrence in the scar stage of duodenal ulcer.
METHODS
The subjects consisted of 66 patients with duodenal ulcer scar confirmed by the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at Seoul National University Hospital between October 1997 and July 2000. H. pylori status was evaluated by means of rapid urease test and biopsy specimens taken from the antrum as well as the body of stomach. H. pylori-positive patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the follow-up group, H. pylori-negative patients were allocated to the follow-up group. The 36 patients of treatment group were treated with triple therapy for one week. The follow-up group consisted of 17 H. pylori-positive patients and 13 H. pylori-negative patients. The follow-up endoscopy was performed for the both groups every six months up to 30 months.
RESULTS
No significant difference of demographic characteristics was found between the two groups. Ulcer recurrences were significantly more common in H. pylori-positive or noncured patients than in H. pylori-negative or cured patients (30% vs. 0%, p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
The results of our study show that the H. pylori eradication in patients with duodenal ulcer scar can reduce the recurrence of duodenal ulcer.