Premium
Helicobacter pylori and nonulcer dyspepsia
Author(s) -
Talley N. J.,
Quan C.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
alimentary pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.308
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1365-2036
pISSN - 0269-2813
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.0160s1058.x
Subject(s) - helicobacter pylori , medicine , meta analysis , epidemiology , gastritis , spirillaceae , intensive care medicine , mechanism (biology) , helicobacter infections , randomized controlled trial , pathophysiology , helicobacter pylori infection , helicobacter , medline , biology , philosophy , biochemistry , epistemology
Although up to 50% of patients diagnosed with nonulcer dyspepsia (NUD) have Helicobacter pylori infection and underlying chronic gastritis, it remains controversial whether any causal relationship exists. The results of worldwide epidemiological studies have been unconvincing. No clear‐cut link has been documented between H. pylori and any specific symptom profile or pathophysiological mechanism in NUD. In the randomized controlled trials, methodological weaknesses may explain in part the conflicting results, but even in the well‐conducted trials controversy persists. Although meta‐analyses have attempted to resolve the issue, inherent methodological difficulties with meta‐analysis remain a problem. Moreover, even the methodologically sound meta‐analyses have reported conflicting results. In addition, predictors of treatment response remain obscure, and there continue to be theoretical concerns about the treatment of H. pylori infection in all patients with NUD. Hence, the management of these patients is challenging, but eradication of H. pylori infection may be beneficial in a small subgroup of cases with NUD that cannot be identified before treatment.