Recurrence of peptic ulcer after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Japanese popultion: A prospective follow-up study

Background: Successful eradication of 11. pylori reduces the rate of duodenal ulcer (DU) relapses. Only a few studies in patients with gastric ulcer (GU) have been reported. Aim: To determine the recurrence rates of GUs or DUs after cure of H. pylori infection. Patients and Methods: A total of 236 patients who had successful eradication therapy, including 133 patients with GU, 89 patients with DU and 14 patients with gastro-duodenal ulcer (GDU), were enrolled in this study. Patients using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at entry or taking maintenance antisecretory therapy after healing of ulcers were excluded. They were followed up endoscopically at 1, 3, 6 and every 12 months after the completion of eradication therapy and at any time when an ulcer symptom recurred, for assessment of ulcer healing and cure of 1-1. pylori infection. (mean follow-up period (range): 1.5 year (0.5 4.5 years)) Biopsy specimens were taken from both the antrum and corpus. H. pylori status was assessed by rapid urease tests, histological examination (hematoxyllin and eosin stain and Giemsa stain), culture and 13C-urea breath test. Results: