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PRIMARY CARE: Annmarie Lassen, Jesper Hallas, and Ove B Schaffalitzky de Muckadell Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study BMJ 2003; 327: 603 [Full text]

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Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study

Marcel J.R. Janssen, Robert J.F. Laheij, and Jan B.M.J. Jansen   (22 September 2003)

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study 22 September 2003
Marcel J.R. Janssen, physician Dept of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University Medical Centre Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500HB Nijmegen, Holland, Robert J.F. Laheij, and Jan B.M.J. Jansen Send response to journal: Re: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study	To the editor: With great interest we read the article “Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study” by Annmarie Lassen, et al.(1) which shows that in patients with endoscopically proven peptic ulcer disease, H. pylori eradication leads to a 24% decrease in use of antisecretory medication in patients on long term antisecretory medication and to a 26% increase in non-long term users. Our main objection to this study is that patients with peptic ulcer disease have an indication for H. pylori eradication to prevent ulcer recurrence and complications irrespective of their complaints and use of antisecretory medication.(2) Peptic ulcer disease and dyspepsia are only partly corresponding disease entities. Furthermore we were wondering whether all patients receiving H. pylori eradication were really cured? In routine clinical practice H. pylori eradication fails in a substantial number of patients and this information is generally not provided by population-based databases. Therefore this might mask part of the true effect of H. pylori eradication. Marcel J.R. Janssen, Robert J.F. Laheij & Jan B.M.J. Jansen Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 1. Lassen A, Hallas J, Schaffalitzky de Muckadell OB. Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study” BMJ 2003;327:603. 2. Kuipers EJ. Helicobacter pylori infection and the risk and management of associated disorders: gastritis, ulcer disease, atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 1997;11(suppl.1):71-88. Competing interests:   None declared