Long-term improvement in constipation-related symptoms after Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy.

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy effectively improves the abnormal bowel habits and abdominal symptoms of patients for a few months post-treatment (PT). However, it is unclear whether the improvement in abnormal bowel habits and symptoms continues long term. Here, we investigated the association of successful H.pylori eradication therapy with improvements in abdominal symptoms in the short- and long-term PT. We evaluated the severity of constipation-related abdominal symptoms in 287 H.pylori-positive patients who underwent eradication therapy at pre-treatment and 2 and 12months PT using two measures: the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the Izumo scale. In patients with constipation at pre-treatment, constipation-related symptom scores in the GSRS improved significantly from 7.91±3.15 at pre-treatment to 6.07±2.75 at 2months PT (p<0.01) and 6.85±3.46 at 12months PT (p=0.04). Patients with improved symptom scores at 2months PT also experienced an improvement at 12months PT. In contrast, patients who did not experience an improvement in constipation-related symptoms at 2months PT likewise did not experience an improvement at 12months PT. Patients who experience an improvement at 2months PT with H.pylori eradication therapy continue to experience improved symptoms in the long term. Therefore, H.pylori -positive patients with abnormal bowel habits should be recommended eradication therapy to prevent gastric cancer development and to alleviate abnormal bowel habits and abdominal symptoms.