HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN EASTERN-EUROPE - SEROPREVALENCE IN THE POLISH POPULATION OF LOWER SILESIA

The Helicobacter pylori status of the population of Eastern European c ountries has not been explored despite the high incidence of peptic ul cer disease and gastric cancer observed in these countries. A seroprev alence study has been performed in Wroclaw, a city of Lower Silesia, P oland, to provide insight into this question. Sera were collected to o btain 50 subjects per 5 yr increment of age. A second generation ELISA kit with a high sensitivity and specificity was used. The results plo tted by year of birth show a very high prevalence of H. pylori infecti on in all adults groups born before 1970 (80-100% positive). In the yo unger age groups, a dramatic decrease was observed. Because it is now known that most H. pylori infections are acquired in childhood (cohort effect), it can be predicted that the infection rate in the adult pop ulation will be much lower in the future compared with that presently observed, and it can be expected that evolution in H. pylori prevalenc e will have an impact on the rate of gastroduodenal diseases in Poland . Because of the high prevalence, it was not possible to identify risk factors for infection in this population.