Background/Aims: In developed countries, recurrence rate of H. pylori after eradication is low, while the recurrence rate in developing countries is high. Previous studies, reported about H. pylori recurrence were short-term and their results were various in Korea. In this study, we determined the recurrence rate after successful H. pylori eradication in the relatively long-term follow-up and prospectively in Korea, a country with a high prevalence of H. pylori infection. Methods: We designed this study to evaluate the recurrence rate of H. pylori with peptic ulcer in the relatively long-term follow-up of patients after H. pylori eradication therapy. 74 patients with peptic ulcer disease were endoscopically proven to have an active peptic ulcer(>5 mm in diameter) and H. pylori infection. They received 'triple therapy' with proton pump inhibitor plus amoxicillin and clarithromycin. Eradication of H. pylori infection was assessed by histology of biopsy specimens, CLO test, and urea breath test at 4 weeks after eradication therapy. Patients were followed up prospectively on 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after successful eradication of H. pylori using urea breath test respectively. Results: The mean follow-up period was 12 months. 44 patients were men and 30 patients were women and mean age was 50 years. Recurrence of H. pylori occurred in 2 of 74 patients, giving an annual recurrence of 2.7% per patient-year. Conclusions: The recurrence rate after eradication of H. pylori is low in Korea despite high prevalence of H. pylori infection. (Korean J Helicobacter Res Prac 2002;2:183-187) |