CIRRHOSIS NEGATIVELY AFFECTS THE EFFICIENCY OF SEROLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OFHELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

In cirrhosis, Helicobacter pylori infection may be implicated, togethe r with portal hypertension, bile reflux and alcohol abuse, in damage t o gastric mucosa, Aim of this study was to define the influence of non alcoholic lives disease on the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infect ion and on the diagnostic accuracy of specific serology. Enrolled in t he study were 232 individuals, 105 also had cirrhosis, Infection by He licobacter pylori, diagnosed by a positive concordance of quick urease test and histology, was detected in 97 (48 with cirrhosis) out of 184 patients. Severe gastritis was more frequent in patients with Helicob acter pylori infection than in patients without, Cirrhosis did not sig nificantly affect the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection or t he histological features of gastritis, Specific anti-Helicobacter pylo ri IgG and IgA assay (Bio-Rad GAP test) was used for serological diagn osis, Anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG showed a high sensitivity (85% in c irrhotics, 89% in non-cirrhotics) and low specificity being more evide nt in cirrhotics (38% vs 56% non-cirrhotics), Serum specific IgA showe d low sensitivity (similar to 25% in both groups) and specificity of 7 9% in cirrhotics vs 84% in non-cirrhotics. In conclusion, non-alcoholi c cirrhosis does not affect the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infec tion and the histological features of chronic gastritis but does decre ase diagnostic efficiency of serological tests for Helicobacter pylori .