THE PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ANTIBODIES IN A POPULATION FROMSOUTHERN ESTONIA

Objectives: Previous retrospective histological studies have revealed a Helicobacter pylori infection rate of 73-79%. Cross-sectional studie s on H. pylori prevalence are still lacking in Estonia. Design: A tota l of 1461 inhabitants between the ages of 15 and 95 years from the vil lage of Karksi-Nuia and 497 between the ages of 50 and 91 years from A bja-Paluoja were examined for IgG antibodies to H. pylori. This study was performed on a quasi-global sample of the general adult rural popu lation in two villages in southern Estonia. Method: A cell-surface gly cine extract of H. pylori strain NCTC 11637 was used as antigen in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: IgG antibodies to H. pylor i strain NCTC 11637 were detected in 87.0 +/- 2.3% of the inhabitants of Karksi-Nuia and in 89.3 +/- 3.6% of those from Abja-Paluoja. IgG pr evalence rates increased from 69.0 +/- 9.5% in the 15- to 19-year-old age group to 83.0 +/- 7.1% in the 20- to 29-year-olds (P < 0.05). Conc lusion: We found an extremely high prevalence rate of H. pylori infect ion in this Estonian adult rural population. H. pylori infection was v ery prevalent among young people (aged 15-29 years).