Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on intragastric acidity in patients with reflux esophagitis

Background The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on intragastric acidity in patients with reflux esophagitis was investigated. Methods. Esophageal motility and 24-h intragastric acidity were assessed in endoscopy-proven reflux esophagitis patients with (n = 50) and without (n = 50) H. pylori infection. Results. Most of the patients had a mild degree of esophagitis. There was no difference in the age, sex, or body mass index (BMI) between patients with and without H. pylori infection. The 24-h intragastric pH monitoring showed less acidity in patients with H. pylori infection than in those without H. pylori infection (median pH, 1.6 +/- 0.3 vs 1.4 +/- 0.1, with vs without H. pylori infection; P < 0.01). No difference in the patterns of esophageal motility dysfunction was noted between these two groups of patients. Conclusions. Patients with reflux esophagitis and H. pylori infection had less intragastric acidity than those without H. pylori infection. However, the extent of acid suppression was insufficient to protect the esophagus from acid injury. In addition, the degree of esophageal motility dysfunction was similar in both groups. Therefore, H. pylori infection may play no role in the pathogenesis of reflux esophagitis.