Association of Helicobacter Pylori Antibodies with cases having non – Ulcer Dyspepsia Diagnosed on Endoscope

Abstract

To find out an association between Helicobacter pylori antibodies and non-ulcer dyspepsia diagnosed on endoscopy, a study was conducted at the Department of Medicine, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur during a period extending from July 2000 to June 2001. A total of 200 patients between the ages of 20-50 years, presenting with more than three years of dyspeptic symptoms were subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Serum specimens from all these cases having non-ulcer dyspepsia were also sent to Agha Khan University Hospital Laboratory for the quantitative detection of H. pylori antibodies. Out of the total patients endoscopied (n=200), 116(58%) had positive findings on endoscopy. Out of these endoscopy positive cases, 71(61.20%) had gastritis alone, 15(12.93%) had gastritis, duodenitis and oesophagitis, 9(7.75%) had gastric ulcers and 21(18.10%) had lower end oesophagitis alone. These cases with positive findings (other than ulcers) were evaluated for association with H. pylori antibodies. Majority of these patients was female (n—60) while rest were male (n=47). H. pylori antibodies were detected ¡n 78.87% of gastritis cases, 53.33% of gastritis, duodenitis and oesophagitis cases, and 61.90% of lower end oesophagitis. The study shows that majority of the cases had H. pylori related problem and could be put on therapy for H. pylori without doing endoscopy.