[Effect of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on peptic ulcer healing]

Acid suppressive therapy with H2 receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor can hardly shift peptic ulcers to S2 stage (white scar). As a result, judgement of ulcer healing has been made at S1 stage (red scar). However, it has been a problem that many ulcer scars relapse. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy can prevent peptic ulcers from relapsing. The eradication therapy shifted 92% gastric ulcers from all stages to S2 stage after 24 months. We has divided S1 stage categorized by conventional endoscopy into H3-C stage (with small defect of mucosa) and S1-C stage by dye contrast method. The ulcers at H3-C stage relapse more frequently than those at S1-C stage. The acid suppressive therapy shifted only 7%, 15% gastric ulcers at H3-C stage, S1-C stage to S2-C stage after 6 months, respectedly. On the other hand, the eradication therapy shifted 56%, 65% gastric ulcers at H3-C stage, S1-C stage to S2-C stage, respectedly. It may be one reason why the eradication therapy prevents peptic ulcers from relapsing that the therapy shifts almost peptic ulcers to S2 stage.