Impact of Different Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapies on Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

Antonio Mestrovic,Ante Tonkic,Katarina Vukojevic,Josko Bozic

doi:10.3390/medicina57080803

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection impairs quality of life. However, whether eradication therapy ameliorates gastrointestinal symptoms remains questionable. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal symptoms. Materials and Methods: A total of 140 patients, 59 women and 81 men, with a mean age of 61 and suffering from H. pylori infection in the University Hospital of Split, Croatia, were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomly assigned to either concomitant or hybrid therapies. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaire was completed by patients prior to and after the eradication therapy. Results: In both groups, the total GSRS score improved significantly after therapy. In the concomitant group, the abdominal pain score, reflux symptoms score and indigestion score decreased significantly after therapy. In the group with hybrid therapy, all five groups of symptoms (abdominal pain, reflux symptoms, indigestion, diarrhea and constipation) significantly decreased after therapy. Patients with adverse events had significantly higher total GSRS scores after eradication therapy. Conclusions: H. pylori eradication therapy could alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms regardless of the treatment used, but the favorable effect seemed to be more pronounced after hybrid therapy.

Highlights

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection still represents a public health burden
H. pylori infection has been a subject of numerous studies for decades, the number of studies involving the impact on the quality of life in patients with H. pylori is limited
There were no significant differences in diarrhea and constipation symptom scores before and after eradication therapy (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection still represents a public health burden. H. pylori remains a crucial element in the development of conditions such as gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (MALT) [1,2]. Epigastric pain and dyspeptic symptoms can be caused by H. pylori infection, and it might impair various aspects of a patient’s quality of life (QOL). Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection impairs quality of life. Whether eradication therapy ameliorates gastrointestinal symptoms remains questionable. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of H. pylori eradication therapy on gastrointestinal symptoms. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) questionnaire was completed by patients prior to and after the eradication therapy. The abdominal pain score, reflux symptoms score and indigestion score decreased significantly after therapy. Patients with adverse events had significantly higher total GSRS scores after eradication therapy. Conclusions: H. pylori eradication therapy could alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms regardless of the treatment used, but the favorable effect seemed to be more pronounced after hybrid therapy

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Discussion

Conclusion