OBJECTIVES

To understand the short-term and long-term effects of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on serum pepsinogen I, gastrin, and insulin concentration, we studied 53 patients with endoscopically proven duodenal ulceration and H. pylori infection.

METHODS

All patients received a 2-wk course of colloidal bismuth subcitrate, amoxycillin, and metronidazole, and endoscopy was performed at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months after entry. H. pylori status was assessed by a urease test and histology.

RESULTS

Among 43 patients in whom H. pylori was eradicated throughout the follow-up year, the mean basal pepsinogen I was 108 ng/ml at pretreatment, decreasing significantly to 85, 77, 80, and 75 ng/ml at 1.5, 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively, at posttreatment. The basal gastrin was 100 pg/ml at pretreatment and fell significantly to 72, 64, 65, and 59 pg/ml, respectively, posttreatment. Of the four patients in whom the H. pylori was not eradicated, there was no significant change in the median basal pepsinogen I and gastrin concentration. Among the six patients in whom the H. pylori was again detectable within the follow-up year, the fallen serum concentration of pepsinogen I and gastrin returned to the pretreatment level. There was no significant change of basal insulin concentration after triple therapy in either the successfully eradicated or failed group.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that H. pylori is the leading and direct cause of higher serum concentration of pepsinogen I and gastrin in duodenal ulcer patients.