Does the Eradication for Helicobacter pylori Deteriorate Reflux Esophagitis?

Background/Aims: There is little information on the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) eradication in patients with reflux esophagitis (RE). This study was performed to investigate the effect of H. pylori eradication in patients with and without RE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 217 patients with H. pylori infection who received upper endoscopy and biopsies between March 1997 and February 2000. Among them, 77 patients with RE and 140 patients without RE were involved in this study. Their H. pylori infection was assessed by rapid urease test and histology. RE was graded according to Savary-Miller classification. Results: Forty-three of 77 patients with RE and the 140 patients without it were treated by eradication regimen (omeprazole 20 mg, amoxicillin 1 g, clarithromycin 500 mg, twice daily) for 14 days. In 37 of the 43 patients with RE and 115 of the 140 patients without RE, H.pylori was eradicated successfully. Among the patients with RE, there was no significant difference in the course of the RE between the eradicated group and the non-eradicated group. However, RE was newly developed after H. pylori eradication in 12.1%(14 of 140) of the patients without RE. Conclusions: H. pylori eradication may not deteriorate RE in the patients with RE.