PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION AND DYSPEPSIA IN YOUNG-ADULTS IN GERMANY

Data on the seroprevalence and time of acquisition of Helicobacter pyl ori (HP) infection in Germany are scarce. We studied the seroprevalenc e of HP infection and the relationship with gastrointestinal (GI) symp toms in a group of 168 German medical students in the final year of th eir practical training and in 260 age-matched blood donors al the Univ ersity of Ulm. Eight upper GI symptoms were scored in a questionnaire, and blood samples were taken for the detection of HP IgG antibodies w ith an Enzyme Immunoassay (Bio-Rad). Values greater than 12.5 U/ml (po sitive) were detected in 50 medical students (28.8%) and in 96 blood d onors (36.9%). At least one occasional GI symptom was present in 71.4% of medical students and 70.7% of blood donors. When related to he HP status, 27.0% of HP negative and 32.9% of HP positive individuals were completely free of symptoms. Moderate to severe dyspeptic symptoms we re reported by 17.4% of HP negative and 14.4% of HP positive individua ls. We conclude that the seroprevalence of HP infection in young Germa n adults is presently about 1/3 but that HP infection is not linked to gastrointestinal symptoms in this age class.