Increase of Helicobacter pylori-associated corpus gastritis during acid suppressive therapy: implications for long-term safety.

Abstract

We conclude 1) that H. pylori testing in patients on profound acid suppressive therapy should be performed on combined corpus and antral specimens, and 2) that omeprazole therapy leads to a strong increase in corpus gastritis, which may explain the observed development of corpus atrophy in a substantial number of patients after several years of continuous acid suppressive treatment. Therefore, we suggest that patients in need of long-term acid suppressive therapy should receive bacterial eradication therapy if they are H. pylori positive.