Eradicating H. pylori.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2019

Publication Title

The American journal of gastroenterology

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori infects the gastric epithelium of more than a third of Americans, and it has been classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Antibiotic treatment is the standard of care for all patients diagnosed with H. pylori, and it has been stated that treating H. pylori reduces the risk of gastric cancer ( 1,2

). However, close examination of the available data suggests that treating H. pylori may not prevent gastric cancer even in geographic regions with a high incidence of gastric cancer. The United States is not a high-incidence area for gastric cancer, and the incidence in the United States is actually declining over time. Helicobacter pylori is unique as a biologic carcinogen because although it increases the risk of gastric cancer, it seems to protect against a separate cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma. Helicobacter pylori may reduce the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma by as much as 79% (3). Although the incidence of gastric cancer in the United States is declining, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma in the United States is increasing.

Volume

114

Issue

12

First Page

1827

Last Page

1828

DOI

10.14309/ajg.0000000000000424

ISSN

1572-0241

PubMed ID

31599741

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