Effect of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori on peptic ulcer healing

Acid suppressive therapy with H2 receptor antagonist or proton pump inhibitor can hardly shift peptic ulcers to S2 stage (white scar). As a result, judgement of ulcer healing has been made at S1 stage (red scar). However, it has been a problem that many ulcer scars relapse. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy can prevent peptic ulcers from relapsing. The eradication therapy shifted 92% gastric ulcers from all stages to S2 stage after 24 months. We has divided S1 stage categorized by conventional endoscopy into H3-C stage (with small defect of mucosa) and S1-C stage by dye contrast method. The ulcers at H3-C stage relapse more frequently than those at S1-C stage. The acid suppressive therapy shifted only 7%, 15% gastric ulcers at H3-C stage, S1-C stage to S2-C stage after 6 months, respectedly. On the other hand, the eradication therapy shifted 56%, 65% gastric ulcers at H3-C stage, S1-C stage to S2-C stage, respectedly. It may be one reason why the eradication therapy prevents peptic ulcers from relapsing that the therapy shifts almost peptic ulcers to S2 stage.