Investigation of the association between infection with Helicobacter pylori and with TT virus, a novel DNA virus, in patients with gastroduodenal ulcer or ulcer scar

Objectives Recently, a novel DNA virus (TT virus; TTV) has been isolated. E nteric transmission is suggested as a route of transmission of TTV, with hi gh prevalence: of this virus infection in the general population, and age a nd geographical distributions of TTV prevalence very similar to those of He licobacter pylori infection. We analysed an association between TTV and H. pylori infection in patients with gastroduodenal ulcer or ulcer scar. Methods In 181 patients with a gastroduodenal ulcer or ulcer scar (102 with a gastric lesion, 60 with a duodenal lesion, and 19 with both sites involv ed), specimens were cultured for H. pylori and TTV infection was sought in serum by a polymerase chain reaction. Results H. pylori infection was demonstrated in 152 patients (84.0%) and TT V was detected in 168 patients (92.8%). Patients with TTV were significantl y older than those without TTV (P = 0.0001), while no age difference was ob served between patients with and without H. pylori infection. No difference was apparent in the prevalence of TTV infection between patients with and without H. pylori infection, and vice versa, Conclusions We found no association between TTV infection and H. pylori inf ection in patients with peptic ulcer diseases, which is consistent with a l ack of association between TTV infection and peptic ulcer. However, larger studies including surveys of the general population will be required to ana lyse the overall association between TTV and H pylori. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 12:1289-1293 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.