Antibacterial treatment of gastric ulcers

To the Editor: Sung et al. (Jan. 19 issue)¹ reported that in patients with Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric ulcers unrelated to the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, “one week of antibacterial therapy without acid suppression heals the ulcers as well as omeprazole and reduces the rate of their recurrence.” The authors imply that they have proved that therapy directed against H. pylori, and not against ulcers, cures ulcers. There are a number of ways to accelerate ulcer healing without using antisecretory drugs (such as sucralfate or bismuth subcitrate). In our view, Sung et al. actually showed that two regimens.