Eradication of Campylobacter pylori and recurrence of duodenal ulcer. A six-month follow-up study.

Fifty-four patients were studied, 41 men and 13 woman, aged 26-76 years, suffering from duodenal ulcer that healed 4-8 weeks after colloidal bismuth subcitrate therapy (360 mgr twice a day). All patients underwent endoscopy before treatment, 4-8 weeks and 6 months later. Biopsy was taken for campylobacter pylori (C.P.) detection by urease test. All patients were C.P. positive initially. The organisms were eradicated in 36/54 patients (67%) at the end of therapy. Ulcer healing was obtained after 8 weeks in 45/54 patients (83%). They were re-examined 6 months later or sooner if symptoms had recurred. Twenty seven (66%) were then C.P. negative and 14 were C.P. positive. Ulcer recurrence was observed in 15/41 patients (37%) whose ulcer had previously cured. All patients with recurrence were C.P. positive. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between persistence of C.P. and ulcer recurrence rate (p less than 0.001). It is concluded: a) that eradication of C.P. in duodenal ulcer patients has no influence on ulcer healing. b) Duodenal ulcer recurrence is correlated with persistence of C.P.