The Role of Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcer Disease
The link between Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) infection and peptic ulceration is now well established: presence of infection is a strong risk factor for later ulcer development and ulcers rarely occur in the absence of H. pylori or the other main risk factor, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The role of H pylori in peptic ulceration in human is presented in this paper. A peptic ulcer is an excoriated area of stomach or intestinal mucosa caused principally by the digestive action of gastric juice. The two most common factors that predispose to ulcers are chronic gastric infection with H. pylori and ingestion of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. An effective first-line therapy for uncomplicated cases of h. pylori infection would be Amoxicillin + Metronidazole + Pentoprazole. Treatment of H. pylori usually leads to clearing of infection, relief of symptoms and eventual healing of ulcers.