No difference in seroprevalences of Helicobacter pylori infection between patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and those without

A previous article reported a possible relationship between a history of tu berculosis and Helicobacter pylori infection. Epidemiologic similarities ex ist between the two infections: Mycobacterium tuberculosis and H. pylori ar e transmitted from person to person and the risk of acquiring them is eleva ted in underprivileged environment. This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the two infections. Serum concentrations of anti- H. pylori IgG antibody were measured in 40 tuberculosis inpatients on antit uberculosis chemotherapy for no more than 3 months (group I; 52.4 +/- 21.4 years of age), 43 tuberculosis inpatients on it for more than 3 months (gro up II; 57.3 +/- 16.3 years), and 60 nontuberculosis outpatients (control su bjects; 55.9 +/- 16.7 years). H. pylori seropositivities were similar among control subjects (73.3%), group I (65%), and group II (69.8%). The differe nce in the antibody concentrations was significant between control subjects and group I (353.7 +/- 321.2 vs. 176.5 +/- 197.9 U/ml) but was not signifi cant between control subjects and group II (353.7 +/- 321.2 vs. 229.9 +/- 2 49.5 U/ml). The seroprevalences may not be different between patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and those without, and antituberculosis therapy may not decrease the antibody concentrations.