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Role of H. pylori Infection in Duodenal Ulcers Diminishes as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Are Used More Often

Phoenix, AZ, October 18, 1999 -- A prospective study of the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection in duodenal ulcer patients conducted at Johns Hopkins Medical Center and reported to the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) found that infection with this bacterium once implicated in over 90% of ulcers was present in only 55% of patients presenting with ulcers at a tertiary teaching hospital.

John Lee, M.D. enrolled patients with ulcers at the Hopkins Endoscopy Unit into the study, and took biopsies as well as blood tests for the presence of H. pylori. Of the twenty patients for whom complete data are available in this ongoing research, 75% percent were men and the median age was 63 years old. Only 55% of these patients with duodenal ulcers were positive for H. pylori. In both patients with and without H. pylori infection, there was no difference in the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) -- another cause of some ulcers -- or acid suppressant drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Of the H. pylori infected patients, 55% used NSAIDs, while among the H. pylori negative patients, 54% used NSAIDs. PPI use was 18% among with H. pylori positive individuals, compared to 22% among those who were not infected with H. pylori.

These findings support recent retrospective studies which suggest a decrease in the incidence in H. pylori infection associated with duodenal ulcers.

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The ACG was formed in 1932 to advance the scientific study and medical treatment of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. The College promotes the highest standards in medical education and is guided by its commitment to meeting the needs of clinical gastroenterology practitioners. For more information, visit ACG's website: www.acg.gi.org