[Is the successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori sufficient for the healing of peptic ulcer?]

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori has a major role in the pathogenesis of peptic ulcer disease. Cure of the infection is essential in ulcer healing, but an additional PPI therapy after completing eradication treatment is widespread in clinical practice. In the present work clinical studies evaluating peptic ulcer healing followed or not by PPI treatment after eradication therapy were analyzed. The results of these trials are concordant that only a minority of patients with duodenal ulcer would benefit from prolonged acid suppressive treatment, a successful eradication therapy (that counts for a large proportion) is sufficient. There are less data available concerning gastric ulcer: successful eradication is also essential to ulcer healing and to avoid relapse, however it seems that post-eradication PPI therapy might be beneficial.