Hl. Thurmer et al., HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN NONULCER DYSPEPTIC AND ULCER PATIENTS - DETERMINANTS AND CONSEQUENCES IN REAL-LIFE, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 31(8), 1996, pp. 744-748
Background: Infection rates are high in patients with ulcer disease, b
ur even non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) patients have Helicobacter pylori in
fection. The Notodden Helicobacter study is an 'outcome study' of clin
ical practice in a local hospital. The study may identify factors asso
ciated with infection and evaluate whether H. pylori infection predict
s symptoms in both ulcer disease and NUD. Methods: Base-line results o
n infection, symptoms, endoscopy, and treatment were registered in 587
ulcer and NUD patients. H. pylori status was assessed with a rapid ur
ease test. Questionnaire data (5-43 months after treatment) give infor
mation about symptoms. Regression models to identify H. pylori status
were developed. Results: Ulcer patients (H. pylori +/-) were similar t
o infected NUD patients. In contrast, uninfected NUD patients were you
nger, had less severe symptoms, and used less medication than other pa
tients. In NUD, infection rate increased with epigastric pain, male se
x, and age. Conclusion: From a local hospital's point of view, H. pylo
ri-infected NUD patients are like ulcer patients with regard to sympto
ms and demographics. The results suggest that H. pylori infection may
give dyspeptic symptoms through other mechanisms than ulcer. We propos
e a division of the NUD group into HINUD (Helicobacter-infected NUD) a
nd NINUD (non-infected NUD).