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Helicobacter pylori infection: diagnosis, treatment and risks of untreated infection

  • Conference paper
Pathogenesis and Clinical Practice in Gastroenterology

Part of the book series: Falk Symposium ((FASS,volume 160))

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Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with various gastroduodenal pathologies ranging from gastritis and peptic ulcer disease to gastric cancer. The most current guidelines for the diagnosis, indications for therapy and treatment strategies of H. pylori are outlined in the third Maastricht Consensus conference which was convened by the European Helicobacter Study Group (EHSG)1. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection is established using invasive or non-invasive methods2–6. Non-invasive tests are the urea-breath test, stool-antigen tests and serological kits with a high accuracy7. Invasive tests include endoscopy with gaining of gastric biopsies for urea test (HUT®, Helicobacter urease test) or histology (e.g. Whartin Starry silver staining). Eradication of H. pylori infection is recommended in patients with gastroduodenal pathologies such as peptic ulcer disease and low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma, atrophic gastritis, first-degree relatives of gastric cancer patients, unexplained iron deficiency anaemia and chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura8–10. Triple therapy using a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) with amoxicillin and clarithromycin or metronidazole given twice daily remains the recommended first-choice therapy1. Bismuth containing quadruple therapy is also a first-choice treatment option. Rescue therapy should be based on antimicrobial susceptibility1. The risk of untreated H. pylori infection appears to be highest in patients who require long-term treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents11–13.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases Otto-von-Guericke University, Universitätsklinikum Magdeburg, Leipziger Strasse 44, 39116, Magdeburg, Germany

    K. Mönkemüller

Authors
  1. K. Mönkemüller
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  2. H. Neumann
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  3. L. C. Fry
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  4. P. Malfertheiner
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia

    I. Ferkolj

  2. University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    A. Gangl

  3. University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    P. R. Galle

  4. University Hospital Rebro, Zagreb, Croatia

    B. Vucelic

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© 2008 Springer and Falk Foundation e.V.

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Mönkemüller, K., Neumann, H., Fry, L.C., Malfertheiner, P. (2008). Helicobacter pylori infection: diagnosis, treatment and risks of untreated infection. In: Ferkolj, I., Gangl, A., Galle, P.R., Vucelic, B. (eds) Pathogenesis and Clinical Practice in Gastroenterology. Falk Symposium, vol 160. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8767-7_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8767-7_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-8766-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-8767-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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