The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: It is uncertain whether the Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy makes a role in the progression of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods: A meta-analysis was undertaken to investigate the effect of H pylori eradication therapy on the development of GERD. Results: Overall, 16 cohort studies were included. The authors demonstrated that H pylori eradication had no significant effect on the occurrence of GERD in these cohort studies (odds ratio = 0.87, 95% confidence interval = 0.66-1.14, I-2 = 32.4%, P = 0.103). Conclusions: In general, H pylori eradication has no significant effect on the development of GERD in the long term. However, eradication therapy should be taken once there is H pylori infection, because H pylori infection is acknowledged to be a major cause of acute and chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer diseases and has been established as a definite etiologic factor for gastric cancer.