PREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AND GAS TRITIS IN THE SOUTH OF GERMANY - RESULTS OF A REPRESENTATIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

The recent discussions about the relationship between helicobacter-pyl ori-infection, gastritis and the occurrence of stomach cancer caused u s to analyse blood sera of 543 participants randomly selected from the general population in the age of 25 to 34 and of 55 to 64 years from Mosbach (Neckar-Odenwald-Kreis), the county of Deggendorf (Lower-Bavar ia) and Augsburg (Upper-Bavaria) regarding IgG-antibodies against heli cobacter pylori and the concentrations of the pepsinogens A and C. The latter were used as markers for the presence of chronic gastritis wit hout atrophy and with severe atrophy. The prevalence of helicobacter p ylori infection and of forms of gastritis showed no particular differe nces regarding region or gender. Notable differences in the prevalence s were observed with respect to the two age strata. The helicobacter p ylori prevalence of the regions being studied ranged for males from 13 % to 75% and for females from 22% to 76%. The prevalences of chronic g astritis without atrophy in the investigated areas, derived from the p epsinogen titers, were found to be for males between 24% and 70% and f or females between 28% and 61%. Chronic gastritis with severe atrophy appeared mainly in the age group of 55 to 64 years, ranging from 2% to 11% in males and 4% to 10% in females, depending upon region. The hel icobacter pylori prevalence and the prevalence of chronic gastritis wi thout atrophy were found to be highly correlated. Chronic gastritis wi th severe atrophy was also found to be associated with helicobacter py lori prevalence. However, this association did not reach statistical s ignificance. The high percentage of helicobacter prevalence in persons without serologic diagnosis of gastritis (up to 50% depending from re gion and age group) questions the general human pathogenicity of this microorganism. No associations were found between the prevalence of He licobacter pylori infection and the habit of tobacco smoking or alcoho l drinking.