The Aword

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

The Role of H.Pylori

E-mail Print PDF

 

It has been found that an organism called Helicobacter pylori is responsible for the majority of gastric and duodenal ulcers not associated with NSAID use : it may therefore be appropriate for the patient to be tested to exclude this to reduce the risk of GI complications.

There are several different treatment regimes that can be used to eradicate this organism. There is no evidence to date that H. Pylori and NSAIDs together carry an increased risk : H. Pylori does not appear to have either a potentiating or attenuating effect on NSAID-related  ulcer formation. 

However, presence of H. pylori might be a useful clinical indicator of a patient who is at increased risk of developing ulcers. Eradication might be worth considering if the patient has other risk factors for ulcers.