[Helicobacter pylori and gastroduodenal ulcers].

We studied the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H.P.) infection in gastroduodenal diseases. H.P. was positive in 67.6% of gastric ulcer patients and 82.2% of duodenal ulcer patients. H.P. was detected with high frequency throughout the course of ulcer healing. Short-term antimicrobial therapy, including cefixim, ofloxacin and bismuth subnitrate, was effective in 50% of H.P. positive patients. However, H.P. was detected again in a considerable number of patients one year after the treatment. Histological inflammation of the antral mucosa of the stomach was stronger in H.P. positive patients than that in H.P. negative patients. Eradication of H.P. had an improving effect on the inflammation of the stomach, irrespective of the use of concomitant drugs.