CAGA-POSITIVE HELICOBACTER-PYLORI AND RISK FOR DEVELOPING GASTRIC-CARCINOMA IN BRAZIL

To evaluate a possible association between infection with cog A-positi ve strains and gastric carcinoma increased risk we studied 119 Helicob acter pylori-positive patients with gastric carcinoma and 119 matched controls. The presence of cog A gene was investigated by PCR in H. pyl ori isolates and in gastric biopsy specimens. A significant associatio n was found between cog A-positive status and distal gastric carcinoma for both the intestinal and diffuse types of tumor for both males and females. On the other hand, no association was observed between cog A -positive status and proximal gastric carcinoma. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.