HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-PANCREATITIS AND DUODENAL-ULCER

Background: The prevalence of duodenal ulcer is high in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Patients with simple duodenal ulcer without chro nic pancreatitis are mostly Helicobacter pylori-infected, and the prev alence of IgG seropositivity is >95%. The prevalence of H. pylori infe ction in patients with chronic pancreatitis is not known. Methods: IgG antibodies against H. pylori were measured in a cross-sectional surve y of consecutive patients who had their exocrine pancreas function exa mined with a Lundh meal test in the period 1988-95 and in a control gr oup of patients with simple duodenal ulcer. Results: Twenty-seven per cent of the patients with chronic pancreatitis had duodenal ulcer duri ng the observation period. The prevalence of IgG antibodies against H. pylori was 22% in patients with chronic pancreatitis without duodenal ulcer as compared with 27% with non-organic abdominal pain. The preva lence of IgG antibodies against H. pylori was 60% in patients with chr onic pancreatitis complicated by duodenal ulcer as compared with 86% i n controls with simple duodenal ulcer. Conclusions: H. pylori infectio n contributes but may not be the only cause of duodenal ulcer in patie nts with chronic pancreatitis.