Minor effects of Helicobacter pylori on gastric secretion and dose of lansoprazole during long‐term treatment in ZE and non‐ZE acid hypersecretors

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori infection may increase or decrease acid secretion and may augment proton pump inhibitor efficacy. Pepsin effects have not been reported. In Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZE) specifically, H. pylori has been reported to decrease acid. AIM: To examine H. pylori effects on secretion and dose of medication in hypersecretors (basal acid output > 15 mmol/h) undergoing long-term treatment with individually optimized lansoprazole doses. METHODS: Sixty-five patients (47 ZE and 18 non-ZE), treated for > 3 months to 10 years, were tested every 6 months with endoscopy, gastric analysis and serum gastrin. RESULTS: Forty-three per cent were H. pylori-positive. Acid, pepsin and gastrin were not different between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative patients before or during long-term lansoprazole treatment. Initially, H. pylori-positive patients required less lansoprazole than H. pylori-negative patients (68 +/- 6 vs. 96 +/- 8 mg/day), but after 3 years the doses converged (83 vs. 86 mg/day). The disappearance of H. pylori in 15 patients caused no significant changes in acid, pepsin, gastrin or lansoprazole dose in the following 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori had no significant initial or long-term physiological or potential clinical effects on acid or pepsin secretion or gastrin in these acid hypersecretors.