Mek. Ahmed et al., DUODENAL-ULCER AND HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION AT HIGH-ALTITUDE - EXPERIENCE FROM SOUTHERN SAUDI-ARABIA, Canadian journal of gastroenterology, 11(4), 1997, pp. 313-316
OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical presentation, endoscopic features and
prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in duodenal ulcer (DU) patients in
southern Saudi Arabia, located 3150 m above sea level, and to compare
results with those from low altitude regions of the Kingdom. METHODS:
Prospective study of patients with proven DU referred for upper gastro
intestinal endoscopy at Asir Central Hospital Abha, southern Saudi Ara
bia over an 18-month period. RESULTS: Of 126 patients with proven DU,
72% were men and mean age was 40.4 years (range 18 to 68). Twenty-eigh
t percent a were smokers and only 5% used nonsteroidal anti-inflammato
ry drugs. Thirty-eight patients (30%) presented with hematemesis or me
lena, and the majority had a single ulcer. Nineteen per cent of patien
ts with dyspepsia had DU and 96% had H pylori. These results are compa
rable with those reported from the low altitude, warmer regions of Sau
di Arabia. CONCLUSIONS: Age of patients and the male:female ratio were
similar to those in developing countries. The frequency of smoking is
lower than in western countries and no patient in this report consume
d alcohol. High altitude did not affect the prevalence of DU or the fr
equency of H pylori because the results were comparable with those fro
m the low altitude areas of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia and other lowland
developing countries. Although great socioeconomic changes have incre
ased the incidence of heart disease, the patterns of DU and H pylori i
nfection assume those in developing nations.