Abstract
Background
Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a bacterium associated with many gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and has shown a high prevalence in Parkinson’s disease (PD). As HP-associated GI dys- function could affect L-dopa (levodopa) absorption, HP eradication might improve the clini- cal response and decrease motor fluctuations.
Methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted on the clinical symptoms of PD patients with motor fluctuations. The 13C-urea breath test was used to diagnose a current HP infection. All patients with HP infection received a 2-week regimen of triple therapy. The changes in the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) motor score, L-dopa onset time, wearing-off symptoms, mean daily on-off time, GI symptom scores, and quality of life score were measured at baseline and at a 6-week follow-up.
Results
A total of 163 PD patients were assessed, of whom 40 were enrolled. Fifty-five percent of the enrolled patients (22/40) had a current HP infection, whereas HP eradication was identi- fied in 17 of 22 (77.3%) patients who received eradication therapy. Patients with HP eradica- tion showed a significant decrease in daily ‘off’ time (4.0 vs. 4.7 h, p = 0.040) and an increase in daily ‘on’ time (11.8 vs. 10.9 h, p = 0.009). Total wearing-off score (4.4 vs. 6.0, p = 0.001) and the GI symptom score (8.1 vs. 12.8, p = 0.007) were significantly improved. There was no significant improvement in L-dopa onset time, UPDRS motor score, or quality of life score.