Ulcers and gastritis.

Once again this year, developments in the field of ulcers and gastritis have been entirely dominated by findings relating to Helicobacter pylori. However, interest in H. pylori can be expected to decline, since the prevalence of the infection is rapidly decreasing in the developing world - to the point that many gastroduodenal ulcers are now unrelated to H. pylori A further reason for declining interest is disappointment regarding the role of H. pylori in dyspepsia. The expected reduction in the endoscopic workload produced by screening for H. pylori or cagA positivity has so far not occurred. The exact role of the damage caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in H. pylori-infected stomachs remains controversial. Equally controversial is the magnitude of the increased reflux symptomatology and reflux disease observed after H. pylori infection has been cured in patients with ulcer disease. Eradication therapy is largely dominated by proton-pump inhibitor triple therapies, although the efficacy of these is declining. Bismuth triple therapy and quadruple therapy continue to be valid alternatives.