Objectives: To investigate whether smoking would increase ulcer recurrence after eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) without maintenance acid-suppression therapy.
Methods: A total of 287 patients, 256 patients with duodenal ulcers and 31 patients with gastric ulcers, were followed-up for up to 18 months after ulcer healing and successful eradication of H. pylori. There were 83 smokers (defined as smoking > or = 10 cigarettes/day) and 204 patients who never smoked or stopped smoking after the diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease. None were taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or receiving maintenance acid suppression therapy. Endoscopy was repeated either at the end of the follow-up period or when ulcer symptoms recurred.
Results: Of the 83 smokers, 3 (3.6%) had ulcer recurrence, which included two duodenal ulcers and one gastric ulcer. Of the 204 nonsmokers, 4 (2.0%) had ulcer relapse, and all being recurrent duodenal ulcers. Four smokers (4.8%) and nine nonsmokers (4.4%) had recurrence of H. pylori infection after 10-18 months. There was no significant difference in ulcer relapse or recurrence of H. pylori infection between smokers and nonsmokers.
Conclusions: Cigarette smoking did not increase the recurrence of peptic ulcers after eradication of H. pylori.