SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN UREMIC PATIENTS THAN IN PATIENTS WITH NORMAL RENAL-FUNCTION

The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobac ter pylori in patients with different degrees of renal function. Two h undred and twenty consecutive patients requiring gastroscopy for upper intestinal symptoms were enrolled in the study: group I (normal renal function, n = 127), group II (chronic renal failure, creatinine clear ance > 5 < 90 ml/min, n = 59), and group III (hemodialysis therapy, n = 34). On endoscopy, biopsy specimens were taken for analysis of H. py lori infection by urease test and histology. The prevalence of H. pylo ri in patients with renal dysfunction proved to be significantly lower than that in patients with normal renal function (22.6% vs 37%, P < 0 .05). The incidence of ulcer disease in patients with normal renal fun ction was higher than that in uremic patients (14.2% vs 10.8%, not sig nificant). These findings indicate that uremic patients seem to be par tly protected against N. pylori infection.