Background: At present, the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in complicated peptic ulcer and the effect of H. pylori eradication on complicated peptic ulcer have not been fully established. In this study, we report the prevalence of H. pylori in peptic ulcer patients complicated with gastric outlet obstruction, effectiveness of oral eradication therapy on these patients, and their long-term follow up.
Patients and methods: Ten consecutive patients presenting with clinically and endoscopically significant obstructed peptic ulcers were included in this study. During each endoscopy, seven gastric biopsy specimens were obtained and analyzed for H. pylori colonization.
Results: The antral mucosal biopsy specimens were positive for H. pylori in nine patients. H. pylori infection was eradicated and complete ulcer healing was observed in all patients. The mean follow-up period was 14 (7-24) months. One patient had duodenal perforation and underwent surgical intervention following medical treatment, despite the eradication of H. pylori. Ulcer recurrence was noted in two (22.2%) of nine patients, and in one of them the recurrent ulcer was complicated with obstruction (11. 1%). The mean time to ulcer recurrence was 17 months (range, 10-24 months). The biopsies and CLOtests were H. pylori negative at the time of ulcer or erosion recurrence in two patients.
Conclusion: We suggest that H. pylori eradication may improve the resolution in obstructive ulcer cases with colonization.