The long-term effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy on symptoms in dyspeptic patients with fundic atrophic gastritis

Aim: To investigate whether curing Helicobacter pylori infection improves symptoms over the long-term in Japanese patients with nonulcer dyspepsia and fundic atrophic gastritis. Methods: Ninety H. pylori -positive dyspeptic patients with fundic atrophic gastritis were enrolled in this study. We performed a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial comparing triple therapy (n = 45) with that of placebo alone (n = 45). Inflammation and mucosal atrophy were scored according to the Updated Sydney System. Symptoms were scored on a scale of 0 to 3 for six items. Fasting samples of gastric juice were taken before endoscopy, and gastric pH was determined. Serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels were measured, and body mass index was determined. These patients were followed up for 3 years, and all measures were evaluated both before and after therapy. Results: Significant improvement in dyspeptic symptoms and gastritis scores, significant decrease in gastric pH, and significant increase in body mass index were found after 3 years eradication in nonulcer dyspepsia patients treated successfully for H. pylori infection. There were no significant changes in the placebo group. Conclusion: Our study shows that eradicating of H. pylori results in significant long-term reduction in symptoms of nonulcer dyspepsia with fundic atrophic gastritis.