Helicobacter Pylori Infection Follow-up

  • Author: Luigi Santacroce, MD; Chief Editor: Julian Katz, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 22, 2011
 

Further Outpatient Care

  • Consider performing a UBT 4-12 weeks after the end of treatment.
  • EGD with biopsy and a urease test also may be useful, but, importantly, remember that this test does have a significant rate of false-negative results.
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Deterrence/Prevention

  • Risk is increased for patients who have an H pylori infection and whose first-degree relatives have a history of gastric cancer, even if they are asymptomatic.
  • Persons emigrating from geographic areas with a high incidence of gastric cancer have an increased risk.
  • Consider any patient with precancerous lesions of the stomach (ie, intestinal metaplasia) for treatment of H pylori infection.
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Complications

  • Gastric adenocarcinoma is the most severe consequence of an H pylori infection.
  • Gastric MALToma may be treated with H pylori eradication therapy and has a better prognosis than gastric adenocarcinoma.
    • A significant difference exists between the therapeutic response of MALTomas restricted to the mucosa and other, more infiltrating lesions.
    • The only predictive factor for disease regression seems to be the absence of nodal involvement.
  • H pylori infection is associated with squamous cell esophageal cancer.
  • H pylori may play an important role in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. This is due to anti-CagA antibodies that cross-react with platelet antigens.
  • According to some reports, H pylori eradication may cause peptic esophagitis, probably due to a protective action of the bacteria on the cardia area.
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Prognosis

  • The prognosis is usually excellent, even in patients with complications, such as gastric MALToma. However, the prognosis becomes poor for patients who develop squamous cell esophageal cancer or gastric carcinoma.
  • The rate of reinfection is very low (1-2%); however, children and females have a higher incidence of reinfection (5-8%).
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Patient Education

  • Educate patients with a high risk for gastric cancer about clinical control methods and, if H pylori -positive, to begin eradication therapy. However, patients must be educated about the adverse effects of the therapy in order to impress upon them the importance of compliance with the full regimen in order to prevent antibiotic resistance and relapse.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Luigi Santacroce, MD  Assistant Professor, Medical School, State University at Bari, Italy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Manoop S Bhutani, MD  Professor, Co-Director, Center for Endoscopic Research, Training and Innovation (CERTAIN), Director, Center for Endoscopic Ultrasound, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Texas Medical Branch; Director, Endoscopic Research and Development, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Manoop S Bhutani, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

David Greenwald, MD  Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Fellowship Program Director, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

David Greenwald, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, and New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Oscar S Brann, MD, FACP  Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Diego; Consulting Staff, Mecklenburg Medical Group

Oscar S Brann, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Gastroenterological Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP  Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Alex J Mechaber, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Society of General Internal Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Julian Katz, MD  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine

Julian Katz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Gastroenterology, American College of Physicians, American Gastroenterological Association, American Geriatrics Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics, American Trauma Society, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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An antral gland of the stomach with a large Giemsa-stained colony of Helicobacter pylori in the lumen (arrow) at 250X power. Courtesy of Pantaleo Bufo, University of Foggia, Italy.
Helicobacter pylori infection. Lamina propria of the stomach is shown with 2 mast cells overlapping each other. Note the upper part the degranulating process with the release of granules of inflammation mediators (Giemsa staining, 250X). Courtesy of Pantaleo Bufo, University of Foggia, Italy.
Helicobacter pylori infection. A transverse section of the gastric lamina propria is shown. In the lower part, an antral gland of the stomach is present with some Helicobacter pylori in the lumen (red-blue arrow). In the upper part, a mast cell (yellow arrow) is present (Giemsa staining, 250X). Courtesy of Pantaleo Bufo, University of Foggia, Italy.
An antral gland of the stomach is shown with a large colony of Helicobacter pylori in the lumen (Giemsa staining, 425X). Courtesy of Pantaleo Bufo, University of Foggia, Italy.
 
 
 
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