Helicobacter pylori infection and treatment with alkaline spring mineral water at Sijarinska spa

Traditionally balneal treatment of peptic ulcer disease was very popular in Central Europe and in this country. It is well known that any agent which may exert favourable effect on peptic ulcer disease has to suppress H. pylori infection. Ten patients with duodenal ulcer diagnosed by endoscopy were allocated for ranitidine treatment with additional alkaline spring mineral water use at Sijarinska Spa (400ml qid; total 800ml/day for couple of weeks). The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was made by biopsy of antral mucosa, ureasa test and histopathology. All patients had H. pylori infection and chronic active gastritis. After one month all ulcers demonstrated endoscopic signs of healing. One month after finishing the treatment protocol endoscopic antral and fundic mucosal biopsies for H. pylori were repeated. All 10 patients were still H. pylori positive and had chronic active gastritis as well. The result of this study do not support our preliminary observation that in small proportion of H. pylori positive ulcer patients afore - mentioned treatment protocol might have some positive effect.