Eradication therapy for peptic ulcer disease in Helicobacter pylori positive patients.
Abstract
Background
Peptic ulcer disease occurs in 10% of dyspeptic patients in most developed countries. 95% of duodenal ulcers and 80‐85% of gastric ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori. The recognition of the major role played by H. pylori in ulcer development and recurrence has targeted treatment aimed at eradication of this organism.
Objectives
Main objectives include assessing the proportion of peptic ulcers healed at 2 weeks to 2 months and the proportion of peptic ulcer patients that remain free from relapse at 6 to 12 months with eradication therapy against placebo or other pharmacological therapies in H. pylori positive patients.
Other aims are to compare the incidence of adverse effects associated with the different treatments, to assess the proportion of patients in whom successful eradication is achieved and to assess quality of life.
Search methods
The principle electronic search will be undertaken according to the Cochrane Upper Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Diseases Review Group module, with relevant studies being retrieved from the CCTR. In addition, electronic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL will be undertaken and experts in the field will be contacted for leads on unpublished studies. DDW and UEGW abstract books between 1994 and 2000 will be hand‐searched.
Selection criteria
Randomised controlled trials looking at the short and long‐term treatment of peptic ulcer disease containing adults who have had peptic ulcer diagnosed at endoscopy or on barium meal and who have had H. pylori status confirmed positive will be analysed. Patients must have had at least one week of therapy. Trials will be included if they report evidence of assessment from 2 weeks to 52 weeks.
