Role of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastro-duodenal secretion and in pathogenesis of peptic ulcer and gastritis.

Etiologic role for HP appears to be best established in histologically proven gastritis. The major factors mediating gastritis induced by the colonization of the "gastric type" mucosa with HP are probably cytotoxins, cytokines and free radicals activated by this organisms. The deficiency of negative feedback in somatostatin-gastrin link in antral gastritis may result in an excessive gastrin release and increased gastric acid secretion with increased duodenal acid load under basal state and after meal. Recent NIH consensus 1994 proposes that: (1) ulcer patients with HP require treatment with antimicrobial agents whether on first presentation or on recurrence; (2) the value of treatment of HP infection in non-ulcer dyspepsia remains to be determined and (3) the asymptomatic subjects with HP infection do not require treatment with antimicrobial agents.