Prevalence of peptic lesions in asymptomatic, healthy volunteers

Aim. To investigate the presence of lesions of the upper gastrointestinal t ract of asymptomatic, healthy volunteers undergoing clinical pharmacology s tudies. Material and Methods. A series of 53 volunteers (45 male, 23 Helicobacter p ylori negative and 30 Helicobacter pylori positive) underwent upper gastroi ntestinal endoscopy. Helicobacter pylori status was assessed using two meth ods (rapid urease test and histology) from antral and corpus biopsies. Results. Peptic lesions were found in 24 (45%) subjects: erosive oesophagit is, gastric/duodenal ulcers and gastric/duodenal erosions were found in 23% , 9% and 36% of these volunteers, respectively. Helicobacter pylori-positiv e subjects had significantly (p<0.05) more gastroduodenal lesions than Heli cobacter pylori negative individuals (12/30 vs 3/23). The presence of pepti c ulcers and erosive oesophagitis was similar Helicobacter pylori-positive and -negative individuals. Conclusions. The possibility that peptic lesions might exist in otherwise a symptomatic, healthy individuals cannot be ruled out. Helicobacter pylori-p ositive individuals have a significantly higher incidence of gastric and du odenal lesions than Helicobacter pylori negative subjects.