Treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease with rabeprazole in primary and secondary care: does Helicobacter pylori infection affect proton pump inhibitor effectiveness?

BACKGROUND

The presence of the gastric pathogen, Helicobacter pylori influences acid suppression by proton pump inhibitors and treatment outcome in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

AIM: To determine the influence of H. pylori infection on effectiveness of rabeprazole in primary and secondary care patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

METHODS

Patients from primary and secondary care centres with uninvestigated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (based on symptoms only) and investigated gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (endoscopically confirmed oesophagitis or endoscopy-negative reflux disease) were tested for H. pylori and treated with rabeprazole 20 mg once daily for 4-8 weeks in a non-randomized, multicentre, open-label study. Primary end-point for treatment effectiveness was complete resolution of both heartburn and acid regurgitation at 4-8 weeks; secondary end-point was quality of life as registered with the Psychological General Well-being Index.

RESULTS

Data of 1787 patients could be analysed; mean duration of treatment was 36.3 days. At the evaluation visit 76.9% were heartburn-free, 77.7% regurgitation-free and 71% had complete symptom resolution. Overall Psychological General Well-being Index scores improved accordingly. Treatment was equally effective in patients with or without H. pylori infection, but more effective in patients with oesophagitis when compared with symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The effectiveness of rabeprazole in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is not affected by the presence of H. pylori infection.