FUNCTIONAL DYSPEPSIA AND HELICOBACTER-PYL ORI IN DAKAR, SENEGAL

Functional dyspepsia is a common but ill-defined condition. It has bee n demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori contributes significantly to o rganic gastroduodenal diseases, but its role in dyspepsia remains uncl ear. No data are available on functional dyspepsia in Senegal, where t his condition seems common. A study of the epidemiological factors, cl inical manifestations, gastric histologic alterations, and potential r ole for Helicobacter pylori in functional dyspepsia in Senegal is repo rted herein. From October to December 1995, 123 patients underwent upp er gastrointestinal endoscopy to evaluate symptoms located in the uppe r part of the abdomen. Biopsy specimens were obtained from the antrum and fundus for rapid urea tests and histological studies including tes ts for Helicobacter pylori. The diagnosis was functional dyspepsia in 67.9% of cases. Functional dyspepsia was especially common among women (sex-ratio, 0.72), alcoholics (66.7%), and nonsmokers (63.6%). The mo st common pattern was pseudo-ulcerous dyspepsia (49.5%). Chronic gastr itis was found in 68.1% of cases and Helicobacter pylori in 79.1%. Nei ther chronic gastritis nor presence of Helicobacter pylori were signif icantly more common than in patients without functional dyspepsia.