Reviewer's report 
 The diagnostic value of endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests for peptic ulcer patients in late Title: 
post-treatment setting 
 1  17 August 2004 Version: Date: 
 Francis Megraud Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
In this manuscript the authors highlight the interest in performing endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests in dyspeptic patients 5 years after H. pylori eradication attempts. It is interesting to note that among the 17 H. pylori negative patients four had erosions while there 
were two with erosions and 4 with ulcers among the 17 H. pylori positive patients indicating that it is 
worthwhile to perform endoscopy at this stage. 
- It would be interesting to know what the cause of the symptoms and endoscopic findings in the H. 
pylori negative group were. 
- It would also be nice to know more about the patients non-explored. Apparently 53 patients missed 
the 5 year follow-up. The reasons should be provided and among the remaining 81, only 34 were 
studied. Does this mean that none of the others had symptoms? - Page 4, with regard to the 13C-UBT (no italics), please indicate if a test meal was used and the 
time of specimen collection. 
- Page 5, last line, the cut-off for clarithromycin resistance according to NCCLS is ?1 mg/l. - A table showing the endoscopic findings according to the H. pylori status could be added. - The presence of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in a small number of H. pylori negative cases 
should be interpreted as sequelae of this infection. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) 
- Page 4, 5 lines before the end; “13C-urea” - Page 7, line 10: “A poor concordance was found between…” - Page 7, 4 lines before the end: “histological tests, was H. pylori negative” 
- Page 8, line 5: “..intestinal metaplasia were rarely observed…” delete “with small frequency” line 6. 
- Page 8, lines 7 & 8: “Lymphoid follicles were more frequent…” 
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Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article of importance in its field Level of interest: 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Reviewer's report 
 The diagnostic value of endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests for peptic ulcer patients in late Title: 
post-treatment setting 
 1  17 August 2004 Version: Date: 
 Francis Megraud Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
In this manuscript the authors highlight the interest in performing endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests in dyspeptic patients 5 years after H. pylori eradication attempts. It is interesting to note that among the 17 H. pylori negative patients four had erosions while there 
were two with erosions and 4 with ulcers among the 17 H. pylori positive patients indicating that it is 
worthwhile to perform endoscopy at this stage. 
- It would be interesting to know what the cause of the symptoms and endoscopic findings in the H. 
pylori negative group were. 
- It would also be nice to know more about the patients non-explored. Apparently 53 patients missed 
the 5 year follow-up. The reasons should be provided and among the remaining 81, only 34 were 
studied. Does this mean that none of the others had symptoms? - Page 4, with regard to the 13C-UBT (no italics), please indicate if a test meal was used and the 
time of specimen collection. 
- Page 5, last line, the cut-off for clarithromycin resistance according to NCCLS is ?1 mg/l. - A table showing the endoscopic findings according to the H. pylori status could be added. - The presence of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in a small number of H. pylori negative cases 
should be interpreted as sequelae of this infection. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) 
- Page 4, 5 lines before the end; “13C-urea” - Page 7, line 10: “A poor concordance was found between…” - Page 7, 4 lines before the end: “histological tests, was H. pylori negative” 
- Page 8, line 5: “..intestinal metaplasia were rarely observed…” delete “with small frequency” line 6. 
- Page 8, lines 7 & 8: “Lymphoid follicles were more frequent…” 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article of importance in its field Level of interest: 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report 
 The diagnostic value of endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests for peptic ulcer patients in late Title: 
post-treatment setting 
 1  17 August 2004 Version: Date: 
 Francis Megraud Reviewer: 
Reviewer's report: 
General 
In this manuscript the authors highlight the interest in performing endoscopy and Helicobacter pylori tests in dyspeptic patients 5 years after H. pylori eradication attempts. It is interesting to note that among the 17 H. pylori negative patients four had erosions while there 
were two with erosions and 4 with ulcers among the 17 H. pylori positive patients indicating that it is 
worthwhile to perform endoscopy at this stage. 
- It would be interesting to know what the cause of the symptoms and endoscopic findings in the H. 
pylori negative group were. 
- It would also be nice to know more about the patients non-explored. Apparently 53 patients missed 
the 5 year follow-up. The reasons should be provided and among the remaining 81, only 34 were 
studied. Does this mean that none of the others had symptoms? - Page 4, with regard to the 13C-UBT (no italics), please indicate if a test meal was used and the 
time of specimen collection. 
- Page 5, last line, the cut-off for clarithromycin resistance according to NCCLS is ?1 mg/l. - A table showing the endoscopic findings according to the H. pylori status could be added. - The presence of atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in a small number of H. pylori negative cases 
should be interpreted as sequelae of this infection. 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Major Compulsory Revisions (that the author must respond to before a decision on publication can 
be reached) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Minor Essential Revisions (such as missing labels on figures, or the wrong use of a term, which the 
author can be trusted to correct) 
- Page 4, 5 lines before the end; “13C-urea” - Page 7, line 10: “A poor concordance was found between…” - Page 7, 4 lines before the end: “histological tests, was H. pylori negative” 
- Page 8, line 5: “..intestinal metaplasia were rarely observed…” delete “with small frequency” line 6. 
- Page 8, lines 7 & 8: “Lymphoid follicles were more frequent…” 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Discretionary Revisions (which the author can choose to ignore) 
 Accept after minor essential revisions What next?: 
 An article of importance in its field Level of interest: 
 Needs some language corrections before being published Quality of written English: 
 No Statistical review: 
Declaration of competing interests: 
None 
assistant