HELICOBACTER PYLORI SEROLOGY AND EVALUATION OF GASTRODUODENAL DISEASE IN NIGERIANS WITH DYSPEPSIA

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been strongly associated with various gastroduodenal diseases worldwide with only a few studies emanating from developing countries. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and underlying gastroduodenal pathology in Nigerian patients with dyspepsia and ascertain the usefulness of H. pylori IgG screening in decreasing endoscopic workload in dyspeptics in Nigeria. Fifty-five patients with dyspepsia and 55 age and sex-matched apparently normal control were screened for H. pylori IgG using Immunocomb^RII kits. Each of the 55 patients was also examined endoscopically with biopsies taken appropriately. Serology was positive in 94.5% and 92.7% of dyspeptic patients and controls respectively. Gastroduodenal inflammation was the commonest endoscopic finding, 43 (78.18%). Other findings were malignant gastric tumour 6(10.9%), reflux oesophagitis 3 (5.45%), gastric ulcer 2 (3.64%), and duodenal ulcer in 1 (1.82%). Chronic gastritis was the main histopathologic finding in the dyspeptic patients. It is concluded that serum H. pylori IgG cannot be used as a screening procedure to reduce endoscopic workload in Nigerian patients with dyspepsia.


Key Words: dyspepsia; Helicobacter pylori serology; gastroduodenal disease


African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 131-138