Multicentric randomised study ofHelicobacter pylorieradication and pepsinogen testing for prevention of gastric cancer mortality: the GISTAR study

IntroductionPopulation-based eradication ofHelicobacter pylorihas been suggested to be cost-effective and is recommended by international guidelines. However, the potential adverse effects of widespread antibiotic use that this would entail have not been sufficiently studied. An alternative way to decrease gastric cancer mortality is by non-invasive search for precancerous lesions, in particular gastric atrophy; pepsinogen tests are the best currently available alternative. The primary objective of GISTAR is to determine whetherH pylorieradication combined with pepsinogen testing reduces mortality from gastric cancer among 40–64-year-old individuals. The secondary objectives include evaluat…