Aim: To study the effects of drug treatment on hyperplastic gastric polyps infected with Helicobacter pylori (H pylori).
Methods: Forty-eight patients with hyperplastic gastric polyps (3-10 mm in diameter) infected with H pylori were randomly assigned to a treatment group (n = 24) which received proton-pump inhibitor (omeprazole or lansoprazole), clarithromycin, bismuth citrate and tinidazole, and a control group (n = 24) which received protective agent of gastric mucosa (tepretone). Patients underwent endoscopy and H pylori examination regularly before enrollment and 1-12 mo after treatment.
Results: Twenty-two patients in the treatment group and 21 in the control group completed the entire test protocol. In the treatment group, polyps disappeared 1-12 mo (average, 6.5+/-1.1 mo) after the treatment in 15 of 22 patients (68.2%) and H pylori infection was eradicated in 19 of the 22 patients (86.4%). However, 12 months after the study, no change in polyps or H pylori status was seen in any controls ((b)P<0.01).
Conclusion: Most hyperplastic gastric polyps disappear after eradication of H pylori.