Helicobacter pylori and Nonulcer Dyspepsia

To the Editor: McColl et al. and Blum et al. (Dec. 24 issue) 1 , 2 reached opposite conclusions regarding the eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia. In an accompanying editorial, Friedman 3 concluded that breakthroughs in the treatment of nonulcer dyspepsia will probably result from basic investigations into visceral sensitivity and brain–gut interactions rather than from further examination of the role of H. pylori infection. Nonulcer dyspepsia is a heterogeneous condition. It is conceivable that the two studies involved somewhat different groups of patients with different sensitivities to antibiotic treatment. Indeed, one subgroup of patients with nonulcer dyspepsia . . .