Gastro-esophageal reflux following Helicobacter pylori eradication [Helicobacter pylori eradikasyonundan sonra gastroozofajial reflu sendromu]

The interrelation between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and gastro- esophageal reflux disease is complex and not fully understood. It has recently been reported that eradication of H. pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer may provoke reflux esophagitis. In order to determine whether H. pylori eradication promotes the development of gastro-esophageal reflux and reflux oesophagitis, we performed endoscopy, esophageal manometry and 24-hour intraesophageal pH-monitoring prior to and following H. pylori eradication. Biopsies were taken from the antrum, corpus and esophagus during endoscopy. Whilst the study group comprised 21 patients, results were evaluated in only 19 (10 duodenal ulcer and nine non-ulcer dyspepsia) in whom H. pylori eradication was achieved. After eradication all parameters of pH monitoring were increased (p < 0.05) and these the changes were more pronounced in patients with corpus gastritis or esophagitis (p < 0.05). Esophagitis increased from 21% to 47% endoscopically and from 73% to 84% endoscopically and histologically following eradication but this increase was not significant. In conclusion, H. pylori eradication caused an increase in gastro-oesophageal refux, especially in patients with corpus gastritis or esophagitis.