Numerous studies that looked at H. pylori eradication have yielded conflicting results in regards to the patient benefit. The HEROES (Helicobacter Eradication Relief of Dyspeptic Symptoms) trial was an attempt to clarify the benefit. The study evaluated 407 patients with a diagnosis of H. pylori infection and functional dyspepsia. The patients were divided into two groups – one that received the standard triple antibiotic therapy and the second that received only one antibiotic (omeprazole) for 10 days. In the antibiotics group 78.1% reported improvement in the global assessment of symptoms compared with 67.5% in the control group. However, in terms of quality of life, those in the antibiotic group reported significant improvement in scores (4.15) compared with controls (2.20) for physical changes. Furthermore, after one year 88.6% of those in the antibiotics arm were negative for H. pylori compared with 7.4% in the control arm. Diagnostic tests like the Urea Breath Test are ideal for assessing the outcome or eradication efforts because the Urea Breath Test is a measure of active H. pylori infection and will not yield false positive results from remaining antibodies.
Reference: Mazzoleni LE et al “Helicobacter pylori eradication in functional dyspepsia – HEROES Trial” Arch Intern Med 2011; 171(21): 1929-1936.