A historical perspective of Helicobacter gastroduodenitis and its complications.

The discovery of Helicobacter pylori was one of the most notable in gastroenterology - and indeed medicine. The century before Marshall and Warren's discovery is peppered with isolated accounts of spiral-shaped bacteria in the stomach. The discovery of H. pylori, and the recognition of its importance, came about as a consequence of combined clinical, pathological and microbiological work. The discovery has transformed the treatment of peptic ulcers and other related diseases.