DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION - A STUDY IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To correlate endoscopic findings with detection rate of Hel icobacter pylori by culture, urease activity, serological test and his topathological examination. Setting: King Khalid National Guard Hospit al, Jeddah. Subjects: One-hundred and eight patients with gastrointest inal symptoms. Results: Helicobacter pylori was identified in between 60% (culture) and 87% (histology) of all patients referred for endosco py; 94% of all culture positive samples were positive on examination b y rapid urease (CLO) test and 82% were positive on serology. Serologic al tests were positive in 79% of all histologically positive cases. Co nclusion: There was good correlation between histology and culture res ults. However, both tests require endoscopy while serological rests do not. Serology alone is not as reliable as culture and histology shoul d be used to supplement other procedures.