Helicobacter pylori of the remnant stomach and its eradication.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many authors have reported that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the major causes of gastritis and peptic ulcer. This study was conducted to evaluate the incidence of H. pylori infection and the curative effects of amoxicillin and omeprazole on H. pylori in the remnant stomach. METHODOLOGY: Biopsy specimens were obtained from 70 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer. H. pylori was subsequently diagnosed by CLO test and culture of H. pylori. Gastritis was assessed by the scoring of four characteristic pathological parameters. Patients with positive H. pylori were eligible for the eradication study. Amoxicillin, 750 mg per day for 2 weeks, and omeprazole, 20 mg per day for 8 weeks, were administered to them. Endoscopic reexamination was performed 12 weeks after the initiation of treatment. RESULTS: The overall positive rate of H. pylori was 37.1%; 39.6% in Billroth I reconstruction, 0% in Billroth II reconstruction, and 55.6% in pylorus preserving gastrectomy, respectively. The positive H. pylori rate of Billroth II reconstruction was significantly low. However, there was no association of positive rate of H. pylori with time. There was no significant difference of gastritis scores between H. pylori infected patients and non-infected patients. The eradication rate was 70.0%. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori was present in 37.1% of patients who underwent gastrectomy. Gastritis was not significantly severe in H. pylori infected patients. The treatment with amoxicillin and omeprazole was effective for these patients.