R. Zaman et al., DIAGNOSIS OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION - A STUDY IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE OF SAUDI-ARABIA, Saudi medical journal, 16(6), 1995, pp. 552-555
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.