Effect of acid inhibition on Campylobacter pylori.

Campylobacter pylori (Cp) infection has been demonstrated in 59 of 65 (91%) patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer. Patients were included in a double blind study with ranitidine or famotidine for 4-8 weeks. After therapy, all gastric and duodenal ulcers healed but Cp remained in all previously infected patients, associated with chronic inflammation of gastric mucosa. Our results suggest that H2 antagonists do not have any effect either on Cp infection or on concurrent chronic gastritis. At the same time we observed that Cp infection does not disturb the ulcer healing process. However, Cp may be implicated in the persistence of the chronic gastritis and relapses of ulcers.