BMJ  2004;329:402 (14 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.402

Letter

Helicobacter pylori and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Information on underlying pathology is not given

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—We read with interest the article by Harvey et al on the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux.1 However, as the authors recognise, the mechanism by which H pylori infection might affect reflux symptoms is by altering secretion of gastric acid, due to the H pylori related antral gastritis which results in a net increase in acid secretion.2 Nevertheless, a number of recent studies, by combining old and new diagnostic tools (such as pH monitoring, bilimetry, and intraluminal oesophageal impedance), are providing a new and more detailed characterisation of the factors contributing to the so called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.3-5

As Harvey et al recognise, their study has some weaknesses, due to the absence of direct information on the pathology underlying the symptoms of the patients, and one of these is that a subset of the enrolled patients might have reflux symptoms due to the . . . [Full text of this article]

Giovanni Cammarota, assistant professor

gcammarota@rm.unicatt.it, Unit of Gastroenterology; Catholic University Hospital, largo A. Gemelli, 8-00168, Rome, Italy

Giovanni B Gasbarrini, senior lecturer

Unit of Gastroenterology; Catholic University Hospital, largo A. Gemelli, 8-00168, Rome, Italy


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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of effects of Helicobacter pylori infection and its eradication on heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux: Bristol helicobacter project
Richard F Harvey, J Athene Lane, Liam J Murray, Ian M Harvey, Jenny L Donovan, and Prakash Nair
BMJ 2004 328: 1417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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