Eradication of Helicobacter pylori and use of antisecretory drugs: population based cohort study.

Helicobacter pylori is an important risk factor for peptic ulcers. If infection withH pylori is cured, ulcers associated with H pylori do not recur. An H pylori “test and treat” strategy for patients with peptic ulcers having long term antisecretory treatment has been suggested, in the hope that eradicating H pylori would curtail the rising use of antiulcer drugs. 2 We describe the long term effect of eradicatingH pylori on the use of antiulcer medication in a population of patients with peptic ulcers.