Answer: Yes. Many studies report an association between H. pylori and ischemic heart disease. Although the studies vary in methods and results, there appears to be a small but consistent excessive risk of ischemic heart disease in patients infected with H. pylori. It is theorized that higher serum cytokine levels induced by H. pylori infection [...]

Answer: Vaccines against H. pylori have proved effective in preventing infection in animals, but no safe vaccine is available for large-scale human use. Development of a preventive or therapeutic vaccine remains an important area of research. Reference:  Sutton P, Lee A: Review article: Helicobacter pylori vaccines-the current status. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 14:1107-1118, 2000.

Answer: The preferred initial treatment for H. pylori infection is a 10- to 14-day course of PPI triple therapy (PPI, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and clarithromycin 500 mg, all given twice daily), and this can successfully cure infection in >80% of individuals. Metronidazole 500 mg can be substituted for amoxicillin, but this should be done only [...]

Answer: Functional (or nonulcer) dyspepsia is a poorly defined clinical entity, probably with multiple causes. Evidence that H. pylori gastritis causes dyspepsia in the absence of an ulcer has been difficult to obtain, because no specific symptoms separate H. pylori-related dyspepsia from other forms of functional dyspepsia. In addition, the effect of treatment for H. [...]

Answer: Most H. pylori-negative gastric ulcers are associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, both adenocarcinoma and lymphoma can cause gastric ulceration and should be excluded. As the prevalence of H. pylori decreases, H. pylori-negative duodenal ulcers are more commonly encountered and now account for 40-60% of duodenal ulcers in the United States. They are [...]