Helicobacter pylori Eradication in Patients on Long‐ Term H₂ Receptor Antagonists. Economic and Symptomatic Benefits. A Large Prospective Study in Primary Care

Abstract

Almost two-thirds of patients on long-term H2RA in primary care will have a positive serology for H. pylori; the majority of these will have peptic ulcer disease. In over 60% of cases H. pylori eradication led to significant improvement in symptom scores and reduction in dosage of H2RA being consumed. Cessation or reduction in long-term H2RA prescribing is cost effective.

Gastroesophageal reflux before and after Helicobacter pylori eradication. a prospective study using ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH monitoring

“…We defined dyspepsia as upper abdominal/retrosternal pain or discomfort, heartburn, nausea, vomiting or other symptoms referable to the proximal intestinal tract 17 . Patients were asked to grade their dyspeptic symptoms (pain, heartburn, nausea/vomiting, indigestion and bloating) as none (0), mild (1), moderate (2) and severe (3) on the basis of a simple questionnaire which we have reported previously 18 . Thus overall a minimum symptom score (SS) of 0 and a maximum score of 15 was obtainable.…”

Helicobacter pylori and nonmalignant diseases

“…The majority of these patients (11/18; 61%) continued to remain on acid‐suppressor treatment during 4 years of follow‐up (95%CI 38%–83%) [8]. In a further study a group of patients with dyspeptic symptoms (PUD in 58%) on maintenance therapy with H 2 ‐receptor antagonists after successful H. pylori eradication, at the end of the 1‐year period, could either stop or significantly reduce the intake of H 2 ‐receptor antagonists [9]. In a comparative study of 183 patients with PUD or gastritis and/or duodenitis (G/D) H. pylori was eradicated and GI symptoms were evaluated after 1 year by means of Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the Ulcer Esophagitis Subjective Symptoms Scale (UESS) questionnaires.…”