Key Issues Associated with Helicobacter pylori Eradication

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori causes improvement of gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Gastric acid secretion levels in corpus predominant gastritis increase after eradication. These changes can increase the risk of reflux esophagitis and low-dosage aspirin ulcers. Although eradication may reduce the overall risk of gastric cancer, a certain degree of risk remains, related to the extent of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Many post-eradication gastric cancers are the early depressed type, with low levels of epithelial atypia, and therefore can be difficult to distinguish endoscopically from benign erosion. Further research is required in this area. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel The rate of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection has dropped sharply in Japan in recent years, by approximately 30% [1] , while the number of HP-negative patients is rising. There are 2 types of HP-negative patients: those who have not been infected and those who have undergone successful eradication treatment. It has been Published online: January 14, 2016 Dr. Takashi Kawai Endoscopy Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital 6-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023 (Japan) E-Mail t-kawai @ tokyo-med.ac.jp © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel 0012–2823/16/0931–0019$39.50/0