Background: Helicobacter pylori infection is not a risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux disease and it could even be a protector factor.
Aim: To study the relationship between H pylori eradication and gastroesophageal reflux symptoms in patients with duodenal ulcer.
Patients and methods: One hundred eleven patients with duodenal ulcer and treated for H pylori infection were studied. In 96 patients, H pylori was successfully eradicated and were evaluated every four months with endoscopy, during the first year. Thereafter, an annual clinical assessment was performed and endoscopy was repeated only if clinically indicated.
Results: Patient were followed for a mean of 41 months (range 4 months to 6 years). Twelve patients (10.8%) had esophagitis at recruitment and in nine, H pylori was eradicated. The frequency of gastroesophageal reflux symptoms or esophagitis in this group was similar to the rest of patients. During the first year, the frequency of reflux symptoms ranged from 9 to 19%. The frequency of esophagitis persisted at about 10%, although 81% of patients with esophagitis did not have it on recruitment. After the first year, the frequency of reflux symptoms declined significantly to about 8%.
Conclusions: In these patients with duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease had a variable evolution after H pylori eradication.