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Helicobacter pylori infection increases the risk for gastric cancer, one of the most common cancers in the world. Studies designed to examine whether eradication of H. pylori reduces risk for this cancer have produced conflicting results.
To examine this issue further, investigators conducted a multicenter, prospective study involving 4133 H. pylori–positive patients (mean age, 52.9) with peptic ulcer disease from an area of Japan with a high incidence of gastric cancer (Yamagata Prefecture). Patients were divided into two groups, according to their preferences for treatment: 3781 (91.5%) received antibiotic therapy for H. pylori (eradication group), and 352 (8.5%) received conventional antacid therapy (controls). Patients underwent annual e…