RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND AIM: The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and body mass index (BMI) and dyspeptic symptoms is controversial. We investigated the changes in BMI and dyspeptic symptoms after H. pylori eradication among stages of atrophic gastritis classified according to the serum pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratio. METHODS: One hundred and sixty-three H. pylori-positive patients underwent eradication therapy for H. pylori. Serum PG I and II concentrations were measured before treatment, and the PG I/II ratio was classified into three groups: PG I/II ratio <2.0, PG I/II ratio >or=2.0 and <4.0, and PG I/II ratio >or=4.0 were considered to be low, middle, and high, respectively. Their BMI and abdominal symptoms were checked before, 1 and 5 years after treatment, and these changes were investigated among the three groups. RESULTS: The mean BMI changes 1 year after treatment in the low PG I/II ratio group were significantly higher than those in other groups. Most abdominal symptoms in the high PG I/II ratio group were most severe before eradication but improved significantly after eradication. CONCLUSIONS: The effects of H. pylori eradication on BMI and dyspeptic symptoms may be different according to the serum PG I/II ratio before eradication.