Quality of Life and Relapse of Duodenal Ulcer before and after Eradication of Helicobacter pylori

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare relapse rates and quality of life before and after eradication of Helicobacter pylori in a group of patients with documented recurrent duodenal ulcer disease. METHODS: Seventy-four patients with three endoscopically verified duodenal ulcers during the past 2 years received triple treatment consisting of bismuth subnitrate, oxytetracycline, and metronidazole for 14 days. Quality of life was measured with the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS-SR) and H. pylori status with the 14C-urea breath test. RESULTS: After triple treatment H. pylori was eradicated in 96%, and the ulcer was healed in all. Ulcer relapse was reduced from 100% before to 1.4% during a mean observation time of 111 weeks. The H. pylori reinfection rate was 2.4% during the 1st year. The patients were more satisfied with the health care system and had better sexual relationship and less psychologic distress 1 year after eradication of H. pylori than before. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with recurrent duodenal ulcer, eradication of H. pylori with triple treatment leads to a significantly reduced ulcer relapse rate and improved quality of life.