Review article: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and Helicobacter pylori infection

Clinical trials: healing of erosive oesophagitis with dexlansoprazole MR, a proton pump inhibitor with a novel dual delayed-release formulation--results from two randomized controlled studies

BACKGROUND

Dexlansoprazole MR employs a dual delayed-release delivery system that extends drug exposure and prolongs pH control compared with lansoprazole.

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of dexlansoprazole MR in healing erosive oesophagitis (EO).

METHODS

Patients in two identical double-blind, randomized controlled trials (n = 4092) received dexlansoprazole MR 60 or 90 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg once daily. Week 8 healing was assessed using a closed testing procedure--first for non-inferiority, then superiority, vs. lansoprazole. Secondary endpoints included week 4 healing and week 8 healing in patients with moderate-to-severe disease (Los Angeles Classification grades C and D). Life-table and crude rate analyses were performed. Symptoms and tolerability were assessed.

RESULTS

Dexlansoprazole MR achieved non-inferiority to lansoprazole, allowing testing for superiority. Using life-table analysis, dexlansoprazole MR healed 92-95% of patients in individual studies vs. 86-92% for lansoprazole; the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.025). Using crude rate analysis, dexlansoprazole MR 90 mg was superior to lansoprazole in both studies and 60 mg was superior in one study. Week 4 healing was > 64% with all treatments in both studies. In an integrated analysis of 8-week healing in patients with moderate-to-severe EO, dexlansoprazole MR 90 mg was superior to lansoprazole. All treatments effectively relieved symptoms and were well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

Dexlansoprazole MR is highly effective in healing EO and offers benefits over lansoprazole, particularly in moderate-to-severe disease.

Helicobacter pylori eradication may induce de novo, but transient and mild, reflux esophagitis: Prospective endoscopic evaluation

BACKGROUNDS AND AIM

The effect on reflux esophagitis of eradicating Helicobacter pylori is variable and not fully defined. We previously reported that in patients who have reflux esophagitis associated with duodenal ulcer, a significant improvement in the pre-existing reflux esophagitis occurred after H. pylori was eradicated. In the present study, we asked whether H. pylori eradication leads to de novo development of reflux esophagitis in peptic ulcer patients.

METHODS

Prospective post-eradication evaluations were conducted in 1195 H. pylori-positive patients with peptic ulcer diseases who were confirmed not to have reflux esophagitis by endoscopic examination before eradication therapy. After eradication therapy, endoscopy and a urea breath test were performed yearly.

RESULTS

A total of 1187 patients were followed for up to 10.0 years (a mean of 3.6 years). Reflux esophagitis developed in 279 of 1000 patients cured of infection and in 26 of 187 patients who had persistent infection (P < 0.0001, Fisher's exact test). The esophagitis was mild (Los Angeles grade A) in most patients, transient in approximately one-half, and rarely necessitated long-term medication for the condition. Cure of infection, alcohol consumption, younger age, and high body mass index were identified as significant factors for the risk of developing non-transient reflux esophagitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Cure of H. pylori infection may increase the risk of developing reflux esophagitis in patients with peptic ulcer, but the esophagitis is mostly mild and transient, and long-term medication is rarely required. Thus, H. pylori eradication therapy need not be withheld for fear of provoking reflux esophagitis.

H pylori infection and reflux oesophagitis: A case-control study

AIM: To examine the relationship between H pylori and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) in Iran.

METHODS: In this study 51 GORD patients (referred to endoscopy at Taleghani hospital) were compared with 49 age-sex matched controls. Diagnosis of H pylori was made by gastric mucosal biopsy and rapid urease test (positive if the result of one or both diagnostic methods was positive). Updated Sydney system was used to report histopathological changes.

RESULTS: The frequency of H pylori infection based on rapid urease test and histology was 88.2% (45) in patients and 77.6% (38) in controls, which showed no significant difference. The frequency of H pylori infection was significantly higher in the antrum than in the corpus and cardia. The mean activity, inflammation, and gastritis scores were also higher in the antrum of patients than in the antrum of controls. The mean scores were significantly higher in the corpus of controls than in the corpus of patients. Diffuse active gastritis was observed in a significantly larger number of controls, while the frequency of diffuse chronic gastritis was higher in patients. There was no significant difference in the frequency of other histological findings between patients and controls.

CONCLUSION: H pylori infection cannot prevent GORD in this region.

Lower prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection with vacAs1a, cagA-positive, and babA2-positive genotype in erosive reflux esophagitis disease

BACKGROUND

Increased prevalence of esophagitis has been recognized in the West. Helicobacter pylori infection, particularly virulent strains, is proposed as a protective factor against the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease. To evaluate the relationship of reflux esophagitis with virulent H. pylori infection, we studied the prevalence of reflux esophagitis among H. pylori-infected and -uninfected patients and the genotype of isolates in Taiwan.

METHODS

Patients who had routine physical examination were investigated. The severity of esophagitis was evaluated using the Los Angeles grading system. H. pylori status was assessed by histology, rapid urease test, and bacterial culture. Genotyping of vacA, cagA, and babA2 was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Risk factors for severe esophagitis were evaluated.

RESULTS

Reflux esophagitis was found in 21.2% of 1622 patients. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was found in 33.0% of 276 patients with reflux esophagitis compared with 67.5% of 378 patients with normal esophagus (p < .001). Esophagitis occurred in a significantly lower rate among H. pylori-positive patients with peptic ulcer than those without peptic ulcer. cagA, babA2, and vacAs1a were detected in 100% of 143 isolates. Factors that predicted severe esophagitis included age, gender, and hiatus hernia but not H. pylori infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests significantly lower incidence of H. pylori infection with the triple-positive virulent genotype in patients with reflux esophagitis in Taiwan.

Differential Effects of Helicobacter pylori Eradication on Oxidative DNA Damage at the Gastroesophageal Junction and at the Gastric Antrum

Background and Aim: Helicobacter pylori–associated gastritis causes accumulation of reactive oxygen species in the mucosal compartment. This prospective study evaluates DNA oxidative damage in biopsy samples obtained from both the antrum and the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) before and after H. pylori eradication.

Patients and Methods: Thirty-two consecutive H. pylori–positive patients underwent endoscopy with multiple biopsy sampling (i.e., antrum, incisura angularis, fundus, and cardia at the GEJ). After H. pylori eradication, 32 patients underwent a checkup endoscopy (mean interval, 5.7 months); in a subgroup of 13 subjects, a third endoscopy procedure was also performed (mean interval, 18 months). Additional biopsy samples (two from the antrum and two from the GEJ) were used to assess 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG) levels using both high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector and ELISA.

Results: In the antral compartment, no significant modifications of 8OHdG levels were assessed after H. pylori eradication. Conversely, following eradication, 8OHdG levels significantly increased (high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector, P = 0.04; ELISA method, P = 0.05) in biopsy samples taken from the GEJ, and a further increase was documented in the subgroup of patients who underwent a third endoscopy (P = 0.01). The increasing trend was more relevant in patients in whom H. pylori-cagA–positive strains were eradicated and in those affected by hiatal hernia.

Conclusions: The levels of DNA adducts in the antral mucosa are not modified by H. pylori eradication; conversely, H. pylori eradication significantly increases the oxidative adducts at the GEJ. The clinical and biological importance of this situation and whether and how it relates to a higher risk of precancerous lesions is open to debate.

Helicobacter pylori eradication improves pre-existing reflux esophagitis in patients with duodenal ulcer disease

BACKGROUND & AIMS

There has been significant controversy over the relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and reflux esophagitis. We investigated the effects of eradicating H. pylori on the reflux esophagitis found in patients with peptic ulcers.

METHODS

Prospective posteradication evaluations were conducted yearly in 162 H. pylori-positive patients who had reflux esophagitis together with peptic ulcer disease (4 women and 158 men, mean age = 49.1 yr). The Los Angeles classification of the patients' esophagitis was: grade A, 90; grade B, 63; and grade C, 9. The follow-up evaluations began 1 to 2 months after completion of the eradication treatment (mean time of follow-up = 22 mo), and consisted of endoscopy and an interview focusing on heartburn.

RESULTS

Six patients were withdrawn from the study because of adverse drug reactions or a failure to regularly keep their appointments. After eradication therapy, we observed endoscopically that reflux esophagitis had improved in 87 (55.8%) of the 156 patients. The improvement rate was significantly higher in patients cured of infection (60.8%) than in those with persistent H. pylori infection (38.9%) (P = 0.04). Body mass index (odds ratio = 0.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.76-0.97), cure of infection (3.68, 95% CI = 1.56-8.69), the absence of a hiatal hernia (3.90, 95% CI = 1.83-8.28), and an ulcer located in the duodenum (2.75, 95% CI = 1.33-5.70) were identified as significant independent factors for the improvement of reflux esophagitis.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with reflux esophagitis associated with duodenal ulcer, a significant improvement in pre-existing reflux esophagitis was noted after H. pylori eradication.

Helicobacter pylori: a clinician's view

Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked with a number of gastrointestinal diseases, such as peptic ulcer disease, gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma and gastric cancer. This article reviews some of the evidence for these associations, and discusses the latest recommended indications for eradication therapy.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Globally, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) remains a common and important clinical disorder. This review summarizes the major advances in the understanding and treatment of GERD that have been made in the past 12 months. Epidemiologic studies have yielded additional data on the clinical presentation and natural history of GERD in the East. Further insights have been presented on the pathogenesis of GERD, including the immunoregulatory environment of GERD, the neurophysiology of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR), the mechanics of the esophagogastric junction as well as the influence of Helicobacter pylori. Diagnostically, a new acid exposure sensor may be a helpful cost-effective tool. Developments have been made in pharmacotherapy for TLESR. There is ongoing interest in endoscopic therapy and further developments have been made in laparoscopic fundoplication. The cost-effectiveness of several management strategies has been evaluated, aiming to reduce the cost impact of GERD on the health care system.

Helicobacter pylori-Associated Diseases

Since the initial report 20 years ago by Marshall and Warren of an unidentified curved bacillus located on the gastric epithelium of patients with chronic active gastritis, the discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its association with a number of gastrointestinal diseases has revolutionized the field of gastroenterology. Although the association of H. pylori infection with peptic ulcer disease, chronic gastritis, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and gastric adenocarcinoma has been well documented over the past two decades, other areas remain less clear, including the role of H. pylori in gastropathy associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and both uninvestigated and nonulcer dyspepsia. Although these areas still remain somewhat controversial, recent reports further clarify the role of H. pylori in these conditions. A review of the recent literature regarding H. pylori-associated diseases is presented along with recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of H. pylori infection.