[Influence of Helicobacter pylori on gastroesophageal reflux disease].

Helicobacter pylori is an etiologic factor of chronic gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcers and gastric cancer or gastric MALT lymphoma. The role of H. pylori infection in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) pathogenesis is still controversial. The presence of H. pylori infection in gastric mucosa may play a protective or aggressive role. It appears that the influence of H. pylori infection on frequency and degree of gastroesophageal reflux depends on the localization of inflammation. More active in inducing changes in mucosa are strains producing VacA and CagA cytotoxins. It has also been reported that CagA(+) strains protect more effectively against GERD and its complications. Not all results of studies confirm this dependence. Also, pathogenesis of the above dependences is not completely known. Treatment of the infection causes reduction in inflammatory changes and subsidence of symptoms, and it also reduces the risk of complications such as gastric and duodenal ulcers. The influence of H. pylori eradication on the degree of gastroesophageal reflux and the incidence of de novo GERD is undetermined.