Background: Certain evidence suggests that Helicobacter pylori strains expressing genes for cytotoxin production show a higher sensitivity than non-cytotoxic organisms to eradication treatment. No data are available on the involvement of bacterium-related lesions in different therapeutic outcomes.
Aims: (i) To investigate whether differences in eradication rates may be related to the different expression of virulent strains (cagA, vacA, iceA) in patients undergoing proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapy, and (ii) to evaluate whether therapeutic outcome may be affected by bacterium-induced gastric lesions.
Methods: One hundred and ten H. pylori-positive subjects were enrolled. H. pylori was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. Treatment consisted of lansoprazole-amoxicillin-clarithromycin, twice daily for 1 week. Eradication was checked by urea breath test.
Results: The eradication rate was 70%, and the absence of cagA was associated with unsuccessful treatment. No difference between the groups with successful and unsuccessful eradication was found with regard to vacA and iceA. Lympho-epithelial lesions and fibrosis were associated with unsuccessful treatment.
Conclusions: The present data confirm the importance of cagA (but not vacA and iceA) as a predictor of successful eradication. When fibrosis and lympho-epithelial lesions are present, therapy appears to be less effective. Therefore, these histological features may be involved in an unsuccessful therapeutic outcome.