Review article: Helicobacter pylori eradication--understandable caution but no excuse for inertia

The long-term management of patients with peptic ulcer disease is unsatisfactory, as judged by the persistently high levels of haemorrhage, perforation and death from this condition in Western countries. Although ulcer recurrence and complications can be prevented, many patients with peptic ulcer disease fail to receive the benefits of modern therapeutic regimens. In recent years, eradication of Helicobactor pylori has been promoted as a 'cure' for peptic ulcer disease and, while such claims are premature, there can be little doubt that this treatment--when successful--dramatically improves the medium-term prognosis of ulcer patients. However, in general, clinicians have given this promising therapeutic advance a lukewarm welcome. The aim of this detailed review of the literature is to remove the uncertainty and confusion surrounding many aspects of eradication therapy. Estimates are provided of the eradication rates after either triple therapy or the combination of omeprazole plus amoxycillin, and the sources of variation in published studies are discussed. Problems associated with eradication therapy, including side effects, compliance and re-infection, are addressed in order to ascertain the extent and clinical significance of each factor. In addition, studies reporting the outcome of patients with peptic ulcer disease after eradication are assessed with reference to both ulcer recurrence and complications. The result of the review is to dissipate much of the scepticism concerning eradication therapy. However, whilst acknowledging the efficacy of eradication therapy, its limitations have also to be recognized. By itself, it does not provide the complete answer to peptic ulcer disease. For some ulcer patients, eradication therapy is the preferred option; for others, prophylactic therapy with H2-receptor antagonists is more suitable. Guidelines are proposed for the selection of patients for each alternative therapy. The crucial point is that patients with peptic ulcer--excluding the small proportion with a mild form of the disease--require positive, long-term management consisting of either continuous prophylaxis with H2-receptor antagonists or the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.