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Biomedical subjects

G Maconi

Publications and source records attributed to G Maconi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Prolonging proton pump inhibitor-based anti-Helicobacter pylori treatment from one to two weeks in duodenal ulcer: is it worthwhile?

AIMS: To compare the efficacy of one-week versus two-week treatment with lansoprazole, amoxycillin and clarithromycin in inducing healing of Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcers as well as to investigate the role of several factors, determinant in the ulcer healing process. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-one active duodenal ulcer patients were randomised to receive one- or two-week treatment with lansoprazole (30 mg bid), clarithromycin (500 mg bid) and amoxycillin (1 g bid), not followed by any additional acid suppressive therapy. Ulcer healing and Helicobacter pylori infection were assessed by endoscopy and urea breath test 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Before entering the trial and four weeks after the end of treatment, dyspeptic symptoms were recorded and scored by a validated questionnaire. The potential effects of a number of clinical variables on the ulcer healing process were evaluated by means of univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Duodenal ulcer was healed in 80.5% patients treated for one week and in 91.4% patients treated for 2 weeks according to intention-to-treat analysis (p=NS). Ulcer healing was more frequent in the Helicobacter pylori cured patients compared to those with persisting infection (90.9% vs 68.5%; p=0.04). Multivariate analysis did not reveal any significant predictor of duodenal ulcer healing. CONCLUSIONS: Two-week treatment with lansoprazole, amoxycillin and clarithromycin, without continuation of antisecretive therapy, is better, although the difference is not statistically significant, than one-week treatment in healing Helicobacter pylori-positive duodenal ulcer disease. The eradication of Helicobacter pylori is the most important factor related to ulcer healing.

2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence and clinical features of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper oesophagus (inlet patch).

AIM: To determine the prevalence of heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper oesophagus (inlet patch) and the factors that may influence its finding. To study its macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and its relationship with symptoms and oesophago-gastroduodenal diseases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out in two different prospective series of consecutive patients undergoing oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. The first 791 patients were examined by one medical practitioner who was aware of the existence of inlet patch entity and aimed to evaluate the prevalence of inlet patch. The second series of 687 patients was examined by another investigator who was aware of the existence of inlet patch entity and who was requested to refer all patients with inlet patch, but he was unaware of the existence of a study aimed at evaluating the prevalence of inlet patch. The heterotopic gastric mucosal patches identified in the upper oesophagus were photographed, biopsied and analysed according to the Sydney system score. RESULTS: The presence of an inlet patch was found in 0.29% (operator unaware) and 2.27% (operator aware) of prospectively evaluated patients. Inlet patches appeared as single areas in 12 patients, as twin areas in five, and as multiple areas in one patient. Their diameters ranged approximately from 3 to 25 mm. The average age of the patients (13 men) was 52.5 +/- 16.8 years. Five patients had an active or healed peptic ulcer and only one patient had reflux oesophagitis. Dysphagia or throat discomfort/heartburn represented the symptoms leading to upper endoscopy in only one patient. Six of seven patients with Helicobacter pylori infection in the stomach also presented the infection in the heterotopic gastric mucosa. CONCLUSION: Heterotopic gastric mucosa in the upper oesophagus is not a rare condition. The frequency with which this condition is found during routine endoscopic examination is likely due to the reduced awareness of the examiner. The presence of inlet patches is scarcely correlated with specific symptoms and the patches are often infected by H. pylori, in patients with H. pylori positive gastritis.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Focal gastric inflammatory infiltrates in inflammatory bowel diseases: prevalence, immunohistochemical characteristics, and diagnostic role.

OBJECTIVES: To date, few studies have evaluated gastric histology in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this prospective controlled study was to establish the frequency of focal gastritis in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, as well as to evaluate its immunohistochemical characteristics and clinicoanatomical determinants. METHODS: We evaluated 141 consecutive patients with known CD of the large and/or small bowel, 79 patients with UC, and 141 CD- and UC-free controls; all underwent upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and 13C urea-breath test. Biopsy specimens taken from the antrum, angulus, and gastric body were evaluated by histology and immunohistochemistry. A series of variables, including CD activity index, duration, extent and location of disease, intestinal resection, number of recurrences, and previous and current medical therapy, as well as the presence of dyspeptic symptoms and mucosal lesions at endoscopy, were determined in all CD patients and correlated with the presence or absence of focal gastritis. RESULTS: Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis was found in 47 patients with CD (33%), in 37 patients with UC (47%), and in 60% of CD-/UC-free controls (p < 0.01). In H. pylori-negative CD patients focal gastritis was found in 43% of cases (40/94), compared with 12% (5/42) of UC patients and 19% (11/57) of controls (p < 0.05). Specificity and positive predictive value of focal gastritis in CD were 84% and 71%, respectively. It was characterized by a focal perifoveolar or periglandular lymphomonocytic infiltrate, with CD8+/CD4+ cells predominant both in CD and UC patients. There were no significant correlations between the occurrence of focal gastritis and any clinicoanatomical CD features. CONCLUSIONS: Focal gastritis is relatively common in CD patients although it is not exclusive to this condition. Its recognition could be useful in the diagnostic workup of any patient with suspected or indeterminate inflammatory bowel disease, as it makes a diagnosis of CD more likely.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Ultrasonography in the evaluation of extension, activity, and follow-up of ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to establish the clinical significance of bowel-wall thickening, measured by ultrasound, in ulcerative colitis (UC) and to evaluate the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) to define the extension, the severity, and the response to medical treatment of this pathologic condition. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with active UC were studied on two different occasions 2 months apart and after treatment with steroids. On both occasions the clinical, endoscopic, and biochemical activity of the disease and the ultrasonographic examination of the intestinal walls were evaluated. The maximum bowel wall thickness (BWT) was considered an index of ultrasonographic activity, and the presence of thickened bowel walls and the US appearance of loss of haustra coli were considered in the evaluation of the extension of disease. The extension of colitis was evaluated by means of a double-contrast barium enema in every patient at the beginning of the study. RESULTS: US correctly defined the extension of UC in 74% of the patients as defined by double-contrast barium enema. The degree of BWT was significantly correlated to the clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic activity of UC before and after the treatment. Moreover, BWT decreased significantly (7.3 +/- 1.9 mm versus 5.1 +/- 1.2 mm; P < 0.001) in patients who experienced clinical improvement after treatment, and it did not change (7.0 +/- 1.5 mm versus 7.0 +/- 1.4 mm; P=NS) in patients showing no significant clinical improvement. The degree of pretreatment BWT did not differ between UC patient responders and non-responders. CONCLUSIONS: US evaluation of BWT may be useful in evaluating the extension of UC. The degree of BWT, as evaluated by US, correlates with the clinical, biochemical, and endoscopic activity of UC, both before and after treatment. This suggests that US may be useful to evaluate the response of UC patients to medical therapy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Determinants of Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence among Italian blood donors.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Helicobacter pylori is a worldwide infection. It is estimated that approximately 50% of the general population is affected, but this percentage varies considerably between countries. To investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection, a cross-sectional epidemiological study, based on the serological determination of the IgG antibodies against H. pylori, was carried out in healthy Italian blood donors by using a commercially available kit. METHODS: From March 1995 to March 1997, a total of 2598 consecutive volunteer blood donors were tested for the presence of antibodies against H. pylori. All patients answered a detailed questionnaire which collected sociodemographic characteristics, and smoking, alcohol drinking and dietary habits. Test-positive subjects with gastrointestinal symptoms underwent endoscopy, with biopsies taken for histological diagnosis. RESULTS: The global prevalence of H. pylori infection in our study was 1161/2598 (45%). It was directly correlated with age (67% in subjects aged > or = 50 years). The prevalence of H. pylori infection was higher in men (46.4%) than women (38.4%), and more frequent in patients with a low educational level, in the lower quintile of height and in the upper quintile of body mass index (BMI). No significant association with smoking and alcohol drinking was found. Inverse associations were found with elevated consumption of milk (chi-square for trend 5.49, P < 0.05), but not other examined food groups. Multivariate analysis selected sex, age, BMI and educational level as the variables independently related to H. pylori infection. CONCLUSION: This study confirms relatively high prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity among Italian healthy adults and points to sex, age, BMI and sociocultural class as persisting determinant features of H. pylori infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Risk indicators of organic diseases in uninvestigated dyspepsia: a one-week survey in 246 Italian endoscopy units.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictive value of demographic and clinical features and of the results of an office-based test for Helicobacter pylori antibodies, in the presence of organic dyspepsia. DESIGN: Over a 1-week period, 2206 consecutive patients first referred for endoscopy in 246 Italian centres were included. METHODS: Demographic and clinical features, endoscopy findings, and histological diagnosis of H. pylori infection were recorded for all patients. IgG antibodies to H. pylori were determined in 2128 cases by a rapid, immunochromatographic method (Flex Sure HP, S.K.D., San Jose, CA). RESULTS: Endoscopic abnormalities were found in 939 patients (42.6%). Histologically assessed H. pylori infection was predictive for duodenal ulcer (odds ratio (OR), 6.79; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.4-10.5). Being male (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.7-2.3), older than 40 years (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.5-2.2), a smoker (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.6-2.3), and presenting nocturnal awakening (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.3-2.0) were independently associated with secondary dyspepsia. Epigastric (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.2-1.9) and retrosternal pain (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.1 -1.8) severe enough to affect the usual activities were predictive of organic diseases. The results of the Flex Sure HP test correlated poorly with histological findings. CONCLUSIONS: Male gender, older age, cigarette smoking, a family history of peptic ulcer, symptoms severe enough to induce awakening, epigastric/retrosternal pain severe enough to influence the usual activities are all independently (although weakly) associated with organic dyspepsia. H. pylori infection is strongly associated with duodenal ulcer, but the rapid test we used was not sensitive enough to achieve clinical utility.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Hydrogen peroxide enhanced ultrasound- fistulography in the assessment of enterocutaneous fistulas complicating Crohn's disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proper management of enterocutaneous fistulas complicating Crohn's disease largely depends on the anatomical characteristics of the sinus tracks as well as the coexistence of complications such as abscesses and distal bowel stenosis. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the accuracy of a new technique (hydrogen peroxide enhanced ultrasound (US)-fistulography) compared with conventional x ray fistulogram and/or surgical findings in the detection of Crohn's disease associated enterocutaneous fistulas. METHODS: Patients with known Crohn's disease and a suspicion of enterocutaneous fistulas were prospectively studied with this novel technique, conventional x ray fistulogram, and barium radiography as well as with computed tomography whenever an abdominal abscess was suspected at US. In those undergoing surgery, intraoperative findings were also compared. RESULTS: Seventeen of 502 (3.4%) consecutive patients with Crohn's disease seen over a ten month period had associated enterocutaneous fistulas and were enrolled. Hydrogen peroxide enhanced US-fistulography visualised the extent and configuration of fistula in all cases: 13 patients had a fistula arising from the ileum and two from the sigmoid colon, whereas in two there was no evidence of communication with intestinal loops; in contrast, conventional x ray fistulography missed a correct definition of the fistulous branches or communication with intestinal loops in 50% (4/8) and 36% (4/11) of patients respectively; barium radiography showed fistulas in two cases only. The presence of abscesses along or close to the sinus track, as well as the coexistence of intestinal stenosis, was correctly detected at US in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hydrogen peroxide enhanced US-fistulography could be considered the diagnostic procedure of choice in Crohn's disease associated enterocutaneous fistulas, as it is at least as accurate, simple, and safe as conventional x ray fistulogram, does not miss coexisting abdominal complications, and also provides information on the diseased bowel segments. In addition, it can be easily repeated over time in order to monitor the course of fistulas undergoing conservative treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Management of Helicobacter pylori infection: gastroenterological and surgical perspectives.

Diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori is a crucial point in the management of the different gastroduodenal disorders. Management involves the general practitioner and different specialists such as internists, gastroenterologists and surgeons. Among the most frequent H. pylori-related gastroduodenal disorders of medical interest are some diseases such as dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux, where the role of the bacterium is not well defined and therefore the importance H. pylori eradication is still controversial. On the contrary, the relationship of H. pylori and gastric and duodenal peptic ulcer is widely and definitively proven, and there are no doubts regarding the importance of curing the bacterium in these disorders. However, the surgical aspect of peptic ulcer, in particular the relevance and management of its complications, has not been widely investigated so far. In fact, the prevalence of H. pylori in perforated, bleeding and stenotic peptic ulcers seem to be lower that in non-complicated peptic ulcer, and whenever H. pylori eradication virtually prevents the re-bleeding of peptic ulcer in all cases, the effect of curing the bacterium in perforated and stenotic ulcers is still largely unknown. The management of H. pylori infection after gastric surgery is also still controversial. Most studies suggest that H. pylori can persist after gastric surgery whenever its incidence is much lower than that before operation. However it seems most unlikely that the infection plays a major role in the development of ulcer recurrence after gastric surgery or in the induction of gastric carcinoma. In any case, there are no convincing data that its cure may prevent the occurrence of gastric carcinoma following gastrectomy procedures.

Digestive System Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1998

Ultrasonographic features of long-standing primary intestinal lymphangiectasia.

This article describes a case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia associated with protein-losing enteropathy and lower right leg lympoedema in a 20-year-old woman. Echographic findings showed dilation of the intestinal loops, regular and diffuse thickening of the walls, plical hypertrophy and impressive mesenteric oedema. Although diagnosis of the disease is substantially histological, the ultrasonographic characteristics of the lesions are fairly indicative and of certain diagnosis usefulness in patients with protein-losing enteropathy.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Effects of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric function indices in functional dyspepsia. A prospective controlled study.

BACKGROUND: To date, it is unclear whether Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with disturbances of gastric emptying or acid secretion in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD). Our aim was to investigate whether, in the long run, cure of H. pylori infection significantly influences gastric emptying of solids, acid secretion, and gastrin and pepsinogen I (PGI) release in patients with FD. METHODS: Thirty-eight consecutive H. pylori-positive patients with FD, whose complaints were scored for severity and frequency on the basis of a validated symptom questionnaire, were initially enrolled in the study. They were randomized to receive an eradicating regimen consisting of omeprazole plus clarithromycin and tinidazole for 1 week or full-dose ranitidine for 3 weeks. In 33 patients (18 H. pylori-cured and 15 with persistent infection) basal and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, fasting and meal-induced gastrin concentrations, fasting serum PGI levels, and gastric emptying of solids were determined before and 6 months after therapy. RESULTS: In the 18 H. pylori-cured patients meal-induced gastrin and fasting PGI levels were significantly reduced after 6 months as compared with pretreatment values (peak serum gastrin, 76.0 +/- 23.4 versus 111.9+/-37.4 pg/ml; PGI, 57.1+/-23.4 versus 72.9+/-29.1 ng/ml), whereas they remained virtually unchanged in the 15 patients with persistent infection. In contrast, both basal and stimulated acid secretion and gastric emptying time of solids remained unmodified over time in both groups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: We confirm that also in patients with functional dyspepsia H. pylori eradication in the long run significantly reduces gastrin and PGI release as a result of improvement in the underlying antral gastritis, but this is not accompanied by modifications of gastric emptying of solids or acid secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Influence of bacterial CagA status on gastritis, gastric function indices, and pattern of symptoms in H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients.

OBJECTIVE: To date, little is known about a possible relationship between H. pylori-related disturbances of gastric function and the bacterial virulence. The aim of this study was to assess whether certain gastric function indices as well as the pattern of symptoms in nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) are related to CagA status. METHODS: A total of 56 consecutive patients with NUD (38 H. pylori-positive and 18 H. pylori-negative) were studied. Dyspeptic symptoms were categorized according to the predominant complaints and scored for severity and frequency. In all subjects, basal and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion, fasting and meal-induced gastrin release, fasting serum pepsinogen I (PG I) levels, and gastric emptying of solids were determined. CagA status was determined by assaying serum CagA IgG antibodies by western blotting. RESULTS: Eighteen of 38 (47%) H. pylori-positive dyspeptics were CagA seropositive. Type and severity of dyspeptic symptoms did not significantly differ between CagA-positive and CagA-negative dyspeptics nor between H. pylori-positive and negative patients. Among the gastric function indices studied, only meal-stimulated gastrin was significantly influenced by CagA status (peak gastrin 129.9 [44.1] vs 99.1 [48.6] pg/ml in CagA-positive and negative NUD, respectively), but this was not accompanied by any significant modification of basal or stimulated acid secretion or gastric emptying of solids. The activities of both antral and corpus gastritis in NUD harboring CagA-positive strains were significantly higher than those of CagA-negative NUD. Accordingly, serum PG I levels were significantly higher in CagA-positive than CagA-negative or H. pylori-negative dyspeptics. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support a role for CagA status in influencing the activity and perhaps the distribution of gastritis in NUD, as well as the degree of gastrin response to a meal; however, this is not accompanied by disturbances of acid secretion or gastric emptying or by differences in the type and severity of symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Factors affecting splanchnic haemodynamics in Crohn's disease: a prospective controlled study using Doppler ultrasound.

BACKGROUND: Current knowledge on splanchnic haemodynamics in Crohn's disease is limited. AIMS: To investigate which features of Crohn's disease affect splanchnic haemodynamics, and to establish whether portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) blood supply reflects clinical or biochemical activity of Crohn's disease. METHODS: Seventy nine patients with Crohn's disease and 40 controls were evaluated by Doppler ultrasound (US). The mean velocity of PV and SMA flow, the volume of blood flow of the PV and SMA, and the resistance index of SMA were studied. A series of clinical, biochemical, and US variables including Crohn's disease activity index, serum C reactive protein concentrations, disease duration and its anatomical location, smoking habits, abdominal complications, and current medical therapy, as well as the maximum bowel wall thickness as measured by US, were determined. The relation between PV and SMA blood flow and these variables was assessed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Patients with Crohn's disease had significantly higher PV and SMA flow and a lower SMA resistance index than controls. Stepwise multiple regression analysis identified bowel wall thickness and location of the disease as the main predictive variables of both PV and SMA blood flow variation, accounting for 36% and 45% of their variability, respectively. No relation was found between splanchnic haemodynamics and disease activity. CONCLUSION: A hyperdynamic mesenteric circulation does exist in Crohn's disease; however splanchnic blood flow does not reflect the clinical or biochemical activity of the disease, but seems to be linked more to other Crohn's disease characteristics, such as maximum bowel thickness and anatomical location.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Relationship among acid secretion, antral distension, and liquid gastric emptying in active and healed duodenal ulcer.

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between fasting antral distension and basal and maximal acid output and to examine the link between the gastric emptying rate of liquids and the amount of acid secretion. Twenty consecutive male patients with H. pylori-positive noncomplicated duodenal ulcer disease received a measurement of basal and maximal gastric acid secretion and underwent ultrasonographic (US) evaluation of fasting antral distension and gastric emptying of liquids on two separate days. Ten of these patients were studied again three months after ulcer healing. The width of the fasting antral area was not correlated with basal acid output, but a significant relationship was found between maximal acid output and fasting antral distension (r = 0.55; P = 0.012). No significant correlations were found between gastric emptying and gastric acid output. The gastric emptying rate, expressed as half-time gastric emptying and remaining liquid component at 60 min, was not influenced by basal or maximal acid output. After ulcer healing, no correlations were found between acid secretion, fasting antral distension, and gastric emptying rate. Our results suggest that in duodenal ulcer patients, fasting antral distension is not influenced by basal gastric secretion and that, on the contrary, a correlation exists between fasting antral distension and maximal acid output, but only in active duodenal ulcer. No relationship exists in both active and healed duodenal ulcer between gastric emptying and gastric acid secretion.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and related upper gastrointestinal lesions in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. A cross-sectional study with matching.

BACKGROUND: Although a reduced prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection has been observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, the clinical significance of H. pylori infection in this setting remains unknown. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the prevalence of H. pylori infection in a large series of IBD patients and the frequency of gastroduodenal lesions in those who agreed to undergo upper GI endoscopy. METHODS: Two hundred and sixteen consecutive IBD patients (123 with Crohn's disease (CD) and 93 with ulcerative colitis (UC)) had their anti-H. pylori IgG titres measured. Two hundred and sixteen blood donors matched for age, sex, place of birth in Italy, and socioeconomic status served as controls. All patients were offered the possibility of undergoing endoscopy with antral and corpus biopsies regardless of their H. pylori status. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of H. pylori infection was 48% in IBD patients versus 59% in the control group (P < 0.05), with a significantly lower frequency in CD versus UC patients (41% versus 56%). After adjustment for age, education, and socioeconomic status CD remained associated with a significantly lower risk of H. pylori infection. Previous therapy with sulphasalazine but not with 5-aminosalicylic acid or with steroids/immunosuppressants was associated with a reduced risk of H. pylori infection both in CD and UC patients. One hundred and eighty-nine patients (110 with CD and 79 with UC) underwent endoscopy; the prevalence of peptic ulcer was similar in both groups (5.5% in CD and 5.1% in UC patients); however, 11 more CD patients had gastroduodenal ulcers that were interpreted as CD-related; 7 of these patients had never had foregut symptoms. Two CD patients had granulomatous gastritis at histology, and another 16 patients with CD had H. pylori-negative gastritis. CONCLUSIONS: IBD patients have a reduced prevalence of H. pylori infection as compared with matched healthy controls; this appears mostly attributable to a reduced frequency of H. pylori colonization in CD patients. Previous use of sulphasalazine is associated with a reduced risk of infection both in CD and UC patients. Of CD patients 10% have a gastroduodenal localization of their disease, which is often asymptomatic. Of CD patients 15% also have H. pylori-negative gastritis at histology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric histology, serum gastrin and pepsinogen I levels, and gastric emptying in patients with gastric ulcer.

OBJECTIVE: The evolution of gastritis and the behavior of basal and meal-stimulated gastrin release, pepsinogen levels, and gastric emptying of solids were studied in a series of consecutive patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive, uncomplicated, non-NSAID-related type I gastric ulcer over a follow-up period of 3 months after eradication therapy was begun. METHODS: Before starting treatment (consisting of omeprazole 40 mg a day for 1 month and amoxycillin 1 g three times daily for 14 days), and for 3 months after ulcer healing, 16 patients had a series of functional examinations, including basal and meal-stimulated serum gastrin concentration, serum pepsinogen I levels, evaluation of gastric emptying of solids by means of serial ultrasonographic measurement of the gastric antrum area, and histological assessment of antral and corpus gastritis. RESULTS: Double therapy resulted in the successful eradication of H. pylori in eight of 16 evaluable patients. In the group of H. pylori-eradicated patients, the mean scores of gastritis activity and inflammation in the antrum and corpus had fallen, 3 months after eradication. No significant changes in mean gastritis scores were observed in the case and control group with regard to intestinal metaplasia and atrophy in the antrum and corpus. In H. pylori-eradicated patients, the integrated gastrin response to meal, but not fasting gastrin concentration, fell significantly during follow-up, and serum pepsinogen I levels significantly decreased, compared with baseline. In contrast, the fasting and maximal antral area and the gastric emptying of solids remained unchanged over time. In the control group (but not the H. pylori-eradicated group), no significant modifications of any of the above-mentioned parameters were observed during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that in non-NSAID-related type I gastric ulcers, the eradication of H. pylori significantly reduces gastritis activity and inflammatory scores, but not atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, and modifies gastrin and pepsinogen I release in a short follow-up period. In contrast, H.pylori eradication does not significantly affect gastric emptying of solids, at least within a period of 3 months from therapy.

Amoxicillin↗