Review article: Helicobacter pylori and reflux disease

One-week dual therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate and clarithromycin for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection in Brazilian patients with peptic ulcer

AIM: To assess the efficacy and safety of ranitidine bismuth citrate plus clarithromycin given for 1 wk in Brazilian patients with peptic ulcer.

METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with peptic ulcer were randomized in two treatment groups: (1) 1-wk regimen consisting of ranitidine bismuth citrate 400 mg b.i.d. with clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d. or (2) 2-wk regimen of the same treatment. Eradication of the infection was considered when both the histologic examination and the urease test were negative for the infection 3 mo after treatment.

RESULTS: By intention to treat analysis, Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) was eradicated in 73% and 76% of patients, respectively treated for 1 or 2 wk (P>0.05). By per protocol analysis, the eradication rates were 80% and 83%, respectively, in patients treated for 1 or 2 wk (P>0.05). Nine patients (8.2%) reported minor side effects.

CONCLUSION: One-week therapy with ranitidine bismuth citrate and clarithromycin is safe, well tolerated and effective for treatment of H pylori infection, and appears to be comparable to the 2-wk regimen in terms of efficacy.

Characteristics of gastritis in patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive reflux esophagitis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The influence of Helicobacter pylori on gastric acid secretion differs with the status of gastritis. The histological characteristics of gastritis in H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis have not been fully investigated. We therefore studied the pattern of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy and degree of histological gastritis in such patients.

METHODS

Subjects comprised 41 H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis, 41 age- and sex-matched patients with duodenal ulcer, and 41 patients with early gastric cancer. The endoscopic pattern of gastric mucosal atrophy was reviewed, and the degree of histological gastritis in biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus was assessed in accordance with the updated Sydney system.

RESULTS

The grade of endoscopic and histological gastric mucosal atrophy in patients with reflux esophagitis was significantly lower than that in patients with gastric cancer, and the histological scores for antral atrophy and metaplasia in patients with reflux esophagitis tended to be lower than those in patients with duodenal ulcer. In patients with reflux esophagitis and duodenal ulcer, the scores for antral inflammation and activity tended to be higher than those for the corpus. Conversely, the inflammation and activity score in patients with early gastric cancer showed a corpus-predominant gastritis pattern.

CONCLUSION

In H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis, the degree of endoscopic gastric mucosal atrophy is low and histologically there is an antral-predominant gastritis pattern. Therefore, gastric acid secretion in H. pylori-positive patients with reflux esophagitis may be augmented by H. pylori infection.

Indicaciones y consecuencias de la erradicación de Helicobacter pylori en la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico

Several epidemiological data indicate that H. pylori infection prevalence in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is lower than that reported in respective controls, which would suggest that the organism plays a protective role against this disease. On the other hand, most studies demonstrate that the presence of the infection in patients with GERD does not negatively affect the therapeutic efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and, in case of negatively influencing it, the effects are not clinically relevant and are easily controllable with standard antisecretory treatment. Therefore, the decision to administer H. pylori eradication treatment to a patient should not be influenced by the concomitant presence of GERD. In most cases, H. pylori eradication does not seem to induce GERD development, and it does not seem to worsen GERD when it was already present. Nevertheless, when the gastritis pattern is unknown before the antibiotic administration, the effect of H. pylori eradication on gastric acid secretion and the incidence of GERD is unpredictable. In the exceptional cases in which H. pylori eradication could have negative effects on GERD, its clinical relevance will be limited, and reflux symptoms or endoscopic esophagitis will favourably respond to the standard PPI antisecretory treatment. Therefore, again, when H. pylori eradication is indicated in a particular patient, the concomitant diagnosis of GERD should not change our attitude. Finally, is has recently been recommended to eradicate H. pylori infection in those patients with GERD needing long-term treatment with PPI, as some studies have reported that these drugs induce, in presence of the organism, an atrophic gastritis, with the consequent risk of gastric cancer. However, most of these studies have important methodological defects, and several authors have reported contrary results. In any case, the appearance in the gastric mucosa of clinically relevant lesions, such as intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or adenocarcinoma, in patients treated with PPI for several years, has not yet been demonstrated, although this could simply be a problem of time. This question seems to be too controversial to be answered with the available data, and we should wait until new studies clarify this topic. In the meantime, as it occurs with any controversial indication, the decision of the doctor facing a patient infected by H. pylori and needing maintenance therapy with PPIs should be assessed on a case by case basis.

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with erosive esophagitis is associated with rapid heartburn relief and lack of relapse after treatment with pantoprazole

Previous studies have shown an increased effect of proton pump inhibitors on intragastric pH in Helicobacter pylori (HP)-infected patients suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We evaluated the effect of HP infection on healing and symptom relief in GERD patients with erosive esophagitis treated with pantoprazole. Two hundred twenty-seven patients with endoscopically proven reflux esophagitis were treated for 8 weeks with pantoprazole, 40 mg daily. Patients achieving endoscopic healing at that time were treated for 16 weeks more with pantoprazole, 20 mg daily. Healing and symptom relief rates for HP infection were compared. We found complete relief of heartburn in 72.3% of the HP-positive versus 58.8% of the HP-negative group (P < 0.05). Overall prevalence of heartburn at 8 weeks was higher in the HP-negative group (40.3 vs. 25.8%; P < 0.05), with no significant differences in endoscopic healing (overall 80.4%). At 24 weeks of treatment, the symptomatic relapse rate was higher in the HP-negative group (25.9 vs. 10.2%; P < 0.020). At 8 weeks, patients with erosive esophagitis and HP infection exhibited a significantly better response to pantoprazole through complete heartburn relief, with no differences in endoscopic healing rates between the groups. After 24 weeks, the relapse rate was significantly higher in the HP-negative group.

Effect of sucralfate on antibiotic therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in mice

It has been documented that sucralfate, a basic aluminum salt, enhances the efficacies of antibiotics against Helicobacter pylori, resulting in eradication rates comparable to those associated with the use of proton pump inhibitors. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate sucralfate's ability to complement antibiotic treatment of H. pylori infection in vivo. Four weeks following induced H. pylori infection, clarithromycin (CAM) and amoxicillin (AMPC) were administered orally to C57BL/6 mice for 5 days, both with and without sucralfate or lansoprazole. When sucralfate was concurrently given with CAM and AMPC at the maximum noninhibitory doses for the treatment of H. pylori infection, the bacterial clearance rates were comparable to those achieved by treatment with lansoprazole plus those antibiotics. The results of pharmacokinetic studies showed that lansoprazole delayed gastric clearance and accelerated the absorption of CAM, whereas sucralfate suppressed both gastric clearance and absorption. AMPC was undetectable in all samples. Scanning electron microscopy with a microscope to which a energy dispersive spectrometer was attached revealed that aluminum-containing aggregated substances coated the mucosa surrounding H. pylori in mice receiving sucralfate plus antibiotics, whereas the gastric surface and pits where H. pylori had attached were clearly visible in mice receiving lansoprazole plus antibiotics. The addition of sucralfate to the antibiotic suspension resulted in a more viscous mixture that bound to the H. pylori-infected mucosa and that inhibited the loss of CAM bioavailability in the acidic environment. Sucralfate delays gastric clearance of CAM and physically captures H. pylori through the creation of an adherent mucus, which leads to bacterial clearance.

Review article: oesophageal complications and consequences of persistent gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

The major oesophageal complications associated with persistent gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include erosive oesophagitis, ulceration, strictures and gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Although the causes of these complications are uncertain, studies indicate that erosive oesophagitis may progress to the development of ulcers, strictures and GI bleeding. Pharmacological treatment with proton pump inhibitors is favoured over that with H(2)-receptor antagonists for the treatment of strictures. The treatment of strictures is accomplished with dilation and many favour the concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors. Most gastroenterologists are seeing far fewer oesophageal strictures these days since the introduction of proton pump inhibitors. In addition, research has shown that oesophageal complications have a greater impact on patients suffering from night-time GERD than on those suffering from daytime GERD. Barrett's oesophagus is a significant complication associated with persistent GERD and those at risk generally experience a longer duration of symptoms, especially those with a high degree of severity. In addition, there is a strong relationship between Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. This is in part due to the association of obesity and the development of hiatal hernias. Furthermore, endoscopic screening is being used to detect Barrett's oesophagus and oesophageal adenocarcinoma in persons suffering from chronic GERD, even though screening may not have an impact on outcomes (Sharma P, McQuaid K, Dent J, et al. A critical review of the diagnosis and management of Barrett's esophagus: The AGA Chicago Workshop. Gastroenterology 2004; 127: 310-30.).

Pathophysiology of GERD in China: the same factors at a lower scale

Most of the factors involved in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), previously described in European, Australian, and American studies, are present in Chinese patients with GERD, but at a lower scale. The acidity of gastric contents is reduced either spontaneously or by Helicobater pylori infection. A low-fat diet probably contributes to a more favorable gastric distribution of the meals, reduced obesity, and lowers the number of TLESRs. The prevalence of hiatal hernia is low and esophageal motility disorders are moderate. Like in Western countries, the pathophysiology of GERD in China is multifactorial, with variable combination of moderate abnormalities in individual patients, leading to milder forms of GERD.

Clinical strategies -- interactive case discussions

Interactive case discussions held during the symposium illustrate the practical challenges and dilemmas faced in the management of Barrett's oesophagus. Opinions of the faculty and audience varied widely on how proton pump inhibitor therapy should be used, especially in patients with short-segment Barrett's oesophagus. The therapeutic goal that received most support was to achieve sufficient acid control to keep the patient symptom free and heal any oesophagitis. At the same time, the patient should be reassured of the low risk associated with the endoscopic findings. When long-segment Barrett's oesophagus is detected, it should be assessed in detail, with targeted biopsy of any irregular-surfaced metaplastic mucosa and four quadrant biopsies every 2 cm, to diagnose intestinal metaplasia and to screen for dysplasia or cancer. Repeat endoscopy and biopsy may be appropriate to achieve a sensitive initial assessment because of potential sampling error. Proton pump inhibitor therapy, often twice daily, was considered a requirement for most cases of long-segment Barrett's oesophagus. There was disagreement over the role of surveillance, although proponents viewed it as worthwhile even in patients at low risk for the development of adenocarcinoma, mainly for medico-legal reasons. Endoscopic mucosal resection was seen to be appropriate in carefully selected patients with high-grade dysplasia, depending on factors such as age and comorbidity, the extent of high-grade dysplasia, findings on endoscopic ultrasound and the length of Barrett's oesophagus.

Evidence-based assessment of the efficacy of esomeprazole for the healing of erosive esophagitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is generally a lifelong illness that affects many people. Erosive esophagitis can occur in up to 65% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and more seriously, esophageal stricture, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, can develop. The severity of symptoms is not a reliable indicator of the severity of erosive esophagitis and although endoscopy is the preferred method to diagnose and grade erosive esophagitis, its routine use is not practical. Therefore, early initiation of treatment with the most effective agent for treating this disease is a practical and logical strategy. Proton pump inhibitor therapy is preferred for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This review provides a quantitative assessment of the efficacy of esomeprazole (Nexium, AstraZeneca), the most effective agent currently available.

Symptom response and healing of erosive esophagitis with proton-pump inhibitors in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this article is to determine the severity of esophagitis and the response to treatment with proton-pump inhibitors in patients with and without evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection.

METHODS

This retrospective analysis evaluated data collected in a randomized, double-blind clinical trial that assessed the efficacy and safety of once-daily esomeprazole 40 mg (n = 2,624) versus lansoprazole 30 mg (n = 2,617) for up to 8 wk in the treatment of reflux-associated erosive esophagitis. At baseline, erosive esophagitis was graded using the Los Angeles (LA) classification; serologic testing for H. pylori was performed using a FlexSure HP serum test.

RESULTS

There were 14.7% of patients who were seropositive for H. pylori. The percentages of seropositive and seronegative patients with each grade of esophagitis were: LA grade A, 38%, 36%; LA grade B, 41%, 39%; LA grade C, 16%, 19%; and LA grade D, 5%, 6%, respectively. Severe heartburn was present at baseline in 42% of H. pylori-positive and 42% of H. pylori-negative patients. Life-table healing rates with esomeprazole were not influenced by H. pylori status (seropositive 92.6% (95% confidence interval: 89.8-95.4); seronegative 92.6% (95% confidence interval: 91.4-93.7)). The rates with esomeprazole were significantly higher than those with lansoprazole (seropositive 90.5% (95% confidence interval: 87.5-93.5); seronegative 88.5% (95% confidence interval: 87.1-89.8)) after adjusting for baseline H. pylori status (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of erosive esophagitis at baseline was similar regardless of H. pylori seropositivity. Healing rates were not influenced by H. pylori status.

What the physician needs to know for correct management of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms are highly prevalent; usually those consulting have multiple symptoms, confounding management. Here, common clinically relevant management issues are considered based on the best available evidence. Regardless of the presenting symptoms, determine if there are any alarm features; these have a low positive predictive value for malignancy but all patients with them should be referred for prompt upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Ask about medications; of most importance are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), both non-selective and COX-2 selective. Try to ascertain if the symptom pattern suggests gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or not. Dominant heartburn, however, may be of limited value; if the background prevalence of GERD is 25% and the patient complains of dominant heartburn, then the likelihood that such a patient has GERD as identified by 24-h oesophageal pH testing is only just over 50%. If reflux disease is strongly suspected and there are no alarm features, give an empirical trial of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Symptoms cannot separate adequately functional from organic dyspepsia. Endoscopy in dyspepsia with no alarm features is more costly than an empirical management approach. H. pylori testing and treatment remains in most settings the preferable initial choice for managing dyspepsia without obvious GERD. However, a PPI trial may offer a similar outcome and may be preferable in low H. pylori prevalence areas; head-to-head management trials in primary care are lacking.

Risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease: methodology and first epidemiological results of the ProGERD study

OBJECTIVE

We describe the design and report the first results of the Progression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (ProGERD) study, to our knowledge the largest prospective study of GERD patients.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

Patients were recruited at 1,253 centers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Following an assessment of medical history, all patients were endoscoped and received esomeprazole for 2 to 8 weeks before entering the 5-year observational phase.

RESULTS

A total of 6,215 patients (53% male, age 54+/-14) were included. Of these patients, 46% reported at least daily symptoms, 15% were unable to work at least once during the prior year, and 71% had visited a physician due to reflux symptoms. Barrett's esophagus (BE) was found in 11% of our GERD patients. In polychotomous regression analysis, the main factors related to the occurrence of the three GERD subgroups (nonerosive, erosive disease, and BE) were age, gender, duration of GERD, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and previous PPI use. Factors associated with longer disease duration were increasing age, male gender, BMI, increasing symptom severity, presence of erosive GERD or BE, positive family history, and smoking.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that GERD is a great burden for patients, and has significant socioeconomic implications. The long-term follow-up period with further endoscopic and histologic evaluations, will help further our understanding of the natural course of the disease.

The implications of Helicobacter pylori infection for gastroesophageal reflux disease: studies presented at Digestive Disease Week 2003

The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains controversial. Over 20 studies presented at the 2003 Digestive Disease Week meeting examined the implications of H. pylori infection for GERD. Although the findings were not uniform, most of the studies presented indicated a negative association between the presence of H. pylori and the presence of GERD symptoms, signs, or complications. In addition, eradication of H. pylori infection was related to the emergence of GERD and its complications. However, most studies favored a role for H. pylori rather than GERD in the development of pathologic changes in the gastric cardia. Finally, a few studies suggested the intriguing possibility that the modulation of GERD by H. pylori could be through the effects of H. pylori eradication on weight gain.

Effect of proton pump inhibitors and antacid therapy on 13C urea breath tests and stool test for Helicobacter pylori infection

OBJECTIVE

There is uncertainty about the best method of testing patients for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection while they are taking proton pump inhibitors. The aim of this study was to determine: (i) if the decreased sensitivity of the urea breath test during proton pump inhibitor is corrected by different techniques for breath testing and (ii) if the sensitivity of stool test is decreased with the administration of proton pump inhibitors.

METHODS

Prospective randomized single-blind study was performed in a tertiary care university hospital. Out of 72 H. pylori infected patients endoscoped for upper abdominal symptoms 48 were randomized to proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole 20 mg each day or esomeprazole 40 mg each day) and 24 to antacid (aluminum hydroxide 800 mg each day) for 14 days. Several breath tests (standard 75 mg (13)C-UBT with citric acid, with orange juice, a tablet breath test with 100 and 50 mg of (13)C), and a stool test were carried out. Baseline samples were collected before and after treatment.

RESULTS

The baseline sensitivity for all breath tests was 100% in both groups; for stool test it was 97.8% (95% CI: 88.7-96.6) and 90% (95% CI: 69.9-97.2) in the proton pump inhibitor and antacid group, respectively. After treatment, the sensitivity of tests was significantly low (UBTs range: 77.1%-85.4%; stool test: 83%; 95% CI: 63.9-91.1), while it was unchanged in the antacid group.

CONCLUSIONS

False negative breath and stool tests are equally common in patients taking proton pump inhibitors. Antacids do not impair the sensitivity of the breath tests or the stool test.

Systemic review: the prevalence and clinical course of functional dyspepsia

AIM

To examine the prevalence of functional dyspepsia in the general population, and to evaluate the natural history/clinical course of patients with functional dyspepsia.

METHODS

Full-length published manuscripts during 1980-2002 were included if: (i) participants had uninvestigated or functional dyspepsia; (ii) dyspepsia was defined; (iii) for prevalence, population-based samples were evaluated; (iv) for prognosis, the total number of the inception cohort and the total number of individuals available at the end of follow-up were reported.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies (1976-2002) that examined the prevalence of dyspepsia fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria; 17 studies examined more than 1000 participants, but only two studies provided information sufficient to calculate the prevalence of functional dyspepsia (11.5-14.7%). The prevalence of uninvestigated dyspepsia was in the range 10-40%. When the definition of dyspepsia was restricted to participants with upper abdominal pain, irrespective of the presence of heartburn or acid regurgitation, the prevalence rate estimate was 5-12%. Thirteen studies examined the clinical course of functional dyspepsia (seven retrospective and six prospective). Sample sizes were small (n = 35-209). A follow-up ascertainment of symptoms amongst individuals in the original cohorts was obtained in 92.5-98.2% of prospective studies and in 67.7-82.2% of retrospective studies. The follow-up duration was in the range 1.5-10 years for prospective studies and 5-27 years for retrospective studies; the median follow-up duration for all studies was approximately 5 years. A variable prognosis was reported. An outcome of symptom improvement or becoming asymptomatic was reported in at least one-half of patients in 10 of the 13 studies, and in at least two-thirds of patients in six of the 13 studies. Prognostic factors were inconsistent and, in general, poorly described.

CONCLUSIONS

Functional dyspepsia is prevalent world-wide, but the prognosis remains poorly defined. There is a need for population-based studies to examine the prevalence and clinical course of documented functional dyspepsia.

Establishment of Helicobacter pylori infection model in Mongolian gerbils

AIM: To establish a stable and reliable model of Helicobacter pylori infection model in Mongolian gerbils and to observe pathological changes in gastric mucosa in infected animals.

METHODS: Mongolian gerbils were randomly divided into 18 groups; 6 groups were infected with H pylori clinical strain Y06 (n = 6, groups Y), 6 groups were infected with H pylori strain NCTC11637 (n = 6, groups N), and 6 uninfected groups as negative controls (n = 4, groups C). H pylori suspensions at the concentrations of 2 × 10⁸ and 2 × 10⁹ CFU/mL of strain NCTC11637 and strain Y06 were prepared. The animals in three groups N and in three groups Y were orally challenged once with 0.5 mL of the low concentration of the bacterial suspension. The animals in another three groups N and in another three groups Y were orally challenged with 0.5 mL of the high concentration of the bacterial suspension for 3 times at the intervals of 24 h, respectively. For the negative controls, the animals in six groups C were orally given with the same volume of Brucella broth at the corresponding inoculating time. The animals were killed after 2nd, 4^th and 6^th week after the last challenge and the gastric mucosal specimens were taken for urease test, bacterial isolation, pathological and immunohistochemical examinations.

RESULTS: Positive isolation rates of H pylori in the animals of groups Y at the 2nd, 4^th and 6^th week after one challenge were 0%, 16.7% and 66.7%, while in the animals of groups N were 0%, 0% and 16.7%, respectively. Positive isolation rates of H pylori in the animals of groups Y at the 2nd, 4^th and 6^th week after three challenges were 66.7%, 100% and 100%, while in the animals of groups N were 66.7%, 66.7% and 100%, respectively. In animals with positive isolation of H pylori, the bacterium was found to colonized on the surface of gastric mucosal cells and in the gastric pits, and the gastric mucosal lamina propria was infiltrated with inflammatory cells.

CONCLUSION: By using H pylori suspension at high concentration of 2 × 10⁹ CFU/mL for multiple times, the orally challenged Mongolian gerbils can be used as a stable and reliable H pylori infection model. The 2 strains of H pylori can colonize in gastric mucosa of the infected animals and cause mild inflammation reaction.

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastroesophageal function

BACKGROUND

To elucidate the cause of possible occurrence of reflux esophagitis after Helicobacter pylori eradication, gastric and esophageal function among H. pylori infected Japanese patients were evaluated both before and after eradication therapy.

METHODS

Nine H. pylori-positive patients were studied before and 6 months after successful H. pylori eradication. Studies included gastric emptying, esophageal manometry, gastric and esophageal pH monitoring as well as measuring serum levels of gastrin, pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II.

RESULTS

Helicobacter pylori eradication was associated with a significant change in serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels, consistent with the improvement in mucosal inflammation. There was no significant change in gastric emptying, fasting or postprandial lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, esophageal primary peristaltic contractions, frequency of transient LES relaxation, or gastroesophageal reflux, as assessed by 24 h pH monitoring. The percent time of the gastric pH>4 at night decreased significantly. A 41-year-old male developed erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (Los Angeles Classification Grade A) after eradication. Physiological studies showed he had abnormal esophageal motility prior to H. pylori eradication.

CONCLUSIONS

With the exception of gastric pH at night, most patients did not experience a significant change in gastric or esophageal function after H. pylori eradication. Development of GERD post H. pylori eradication likely reflects an increase in the acidity of the refluxate superimposed on pre-existing abnormalities in gastroesophageal motility.

Helicobacter pylori and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Since the rediscovery of Helicobacter pylori two decades ago, it has become increasingly clear that the true relationships between this organism and diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract are highly complex. H. pylori colonization is a strong risk factor for peptic ulceration and distal gastric cancer; however, gastritis has no adverse consequences for most hosts, and the prevalence of H. pylori is inversely related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its sequelae, which include Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. One clinical implication stemming from these data is that H. pylori eradication may not be appropriate in certain human populations due to potential beneficial effects conferred by persistent gastric inflammation. However, the majority of published intervention trials indicate that H. pylori treatment neither leads to the development of clinically significant de novo esophagitis nor exacerbates existing reflux disease. Superimposed upon these observations are reports that long-term acid suppression induced by proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) in conjunction with H. pylori colonization may enhance the development of atrophic gastritis, a well-recognized histologic step in the progression to intestinal-type gastric cancer. Therefore, current evidence-based recommendations regarding management of H. pylori-positive individuals with GERD include the following. H. pylori should not be treated with the intent to either improve reflux symptoms or prevent the development of reflux complications. However, if patients are to receive long-term acid suppressive therapy, they should be tested for H. pylori and treated if positive, due to the potential for PPIs to accelerate atrophy within H. pylori-infected mucosa. Optimal first-line regimens in this country consist of a PPI in combination with clarithromycin and either amoxicillin or metronidazole (triple therapy) for at least 7, but preferably 10, days. Because the most effective second-line regimens contain metronidazole, it is advisable to use amoxicillin instead of metronidazole as first-line therapy in order to optimize results should subsequent therapy be required. If first-line regimens fail to eliminate H. pylori, patients should receive quadruple therapy consisting of a PPI, bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline for 14 days. Due to the availability and accuracy of noninvasive diagnostic tests for H. pylori, it is recommended that successful cure be confirmed after intervention.