Introduction It is now well established that Helicobacter pylori eradication can significantly modify the natural history of peptic ulcer disease. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of duodenal ulcer among patients endoscopically examined for dyspeptic symptoms and analyse the disease time trend during two ten-year long distinctive retrospective periods (1987-2006). Material and methods Data were obtained through retrospective analysis of outpatients upper endoscopy reports. Full reports were available for 58 515 patients which were analysed for selected clinicopathological features in two clearly defined time periods. The first one, starting from 1987 to 1996 in which Helicobacter pylori infection was not assessed and treated accordingly and the second period from 1997 to 2006 during which the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection in certain diseases was routinely assessed and then treated with PPI based triple therapy. Results Syptoms of dyspepsia appeared to be approximately the same as the indication for endoscopy in both periods (65.1%:63.3%). The frequency of duodenal ulcer disease significantly decreased in the second period of analysis (t=14761; p<0.01). In both periods men had more often duodenal ulcer comparing to women (??= 218.53, p<0.01; ??=21.7, p<0.01). During the second examined period the number of women who had duodenal ulcer significantly increased comparing to the first ten-year period (??=17232; p<0.01). Conclusion The test-and-treat strategy and the implementation of consensus on diagnosis and treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection resulted in a significant decrease in the frequency of duodenal ulcer disease.
Duodenal ulcer during the period of twenty years after discovering of Helicobacter pylori: Experience gained at our centre