HELICOBACTER-PYLORI-ASSOCIATED DYSPEPSIA IN 208 PATIENTS FROM SOUTHERN SAUDI-ARABIA

The frequency of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in 208 patients wi th upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms from the Southern Province of Saudi Arabia was studied prospectively. The occurrence of HP was docu mented histologically and using a rapid urease test in antral endoscop ic biopsies. Our results showed that 82.2% of the 208 patients include d were positive for HP with a male:female ratio of approximately 1:1 ( 88:83). The age range was 14 to 80 years and the median age was 38.2 y ears. The frequencies of HP infection among Saudi and non-Saudi patien ts were 86% and 71%, respectively. Frequencies of HP infection were 88 %, 77.5%, and 93% during the second, third, and fourth decades of life . Among the 140 patients with histologically proven antral gastritis, 128 cases (91%) were positive for HP whereas 29 cases (17%) of the 171 patients positive for HP did not show histologic evidence of antral g astritis. Our data showed that HP was present in 92.5% of patients wit h endoscopic diagnosis of duodenal ulceration, 81% of patients with du odenitis, 80% of patients with both duodenitis and gastritis, 69% of p atients with gastric antral erythema, and 81% of patients with non-ulc er dyspepsia (normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy). Histologically proven antral gastritis was seen in 80% of patients with endoscopic d iagnosis of duodenal ulceration, 76% of patients with antral erythema, 70% of patients with both duodenitis and gastritis, 33% of patients w ith duodenitis only, and 66% of patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Amo ng the 208 patients included in the study, gastric ulceration was only seen in two cases, both positive for HP.