IS A HISTORY OF TONSILLECTOMY ASSOCIATED WITH A DECREASED RISK OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION

To determine the relation between a history of tonsillectomy and the p revalence of colonization by Helicobacter pylori (HP), we conducted an observational, cohort study at the University of Oklahoma Hospital ov er a 13-month period. Subjects undergoing upper endoscopic evaluation and antral biopsies for HP at the University of Oklahoma Hospital form ed the database. The indication of the endoscopy and biopsies was dete rmined by the endoscopist. The antral biopsy specimens were tested far HP+ using a rapid urease test. We recorded the patient's namer age, g ender, race, history of smoking, and history of appendectomy or tonsil lectomy. One hundred nine subjects constituted our database. There was no difference in age, gender, or smoking between the HP+ (n = 37) and HP- (n = 72) groups. The ability to pay for healthcare through a thir d-payor parry also was similar The prevalence of prior tonsillectomy w as 30.6% in HP-group versus 5.4% in HP+ group (p < 0.01). In contrast, the prevalence of prior appendectomy was 21.6% in HP+ group versus 23 .6% in HP-group (p = not significant). Multiple regression was carried out to account for confounding variables. The model showed that only white rare and tonsillectomy were significantly related to the presenc e of HP colonization, Both appendectomy and health insurance, which we re the surrogate markers for access to healthcare and socioeconomic st atus, were insignificant, We conclude that a history of tonsillectomy is associated with decreased prevalence of HP colonization.