Interactions between H. pylori infection, gastric acid secretion and anti-secretory therapy

There is evidence of a two-way interaction between gastric acid secretion and H. pylori-associated gastritis. Gastric acid secretion influences the density of H. pylori colonisation, its distribution within the stomach and the severity of the mucosal inflammatory response to the infection. In addition, H. pylori gastritis alters gastric acid secretion. In subjects with a predominant antral gastritis, it increases acid secretion predisposing to duodenal ulcer, whereas in others with predominant body gastritis, acid secretion is impaired and the subjects have an increased risk of gastric cancer. The two-way interaction between acid secretion and H. pylori gastritis is observed when H. pylori-positive subjects are treated with proton pump inhibitor agents. The inhibition of acid secretion induces a body gastritis and this inflammation of the body mucosa inhibits acid secretion thus augmenting the anti-secretory effect of the drug. In this article, we discuss the interaction between gastric acid secretion and H. pylori gastritis and its importance in determining disease outcome.