Helicobacter pylori associated gastroduodenal problem among the Nepalese

Present study was undertaken during a period of eighteen months (April 2001 to October 2002) to see an association of Helicobacter pylori with the gastric problems among the Nepalese. This study comprised of 203 subjects (Males: 154 and Females: 49) aged 21 to 71 years with gastric problems. The biopsy samples taken from the stomach and duodenum using endoscope were tested for the presence of H. pylori by in-house rapid urease test (RUT) and culture. Representative samples were also tested by PCR. Of the total 203, 60 (29.5%) were RUT positive. Marginally high RUT positive rate was observed in males compared with females (P>0.95). Same was true with ethnic group with a marginally higher positive rate among Tibeto-Burmans compared with Indo-Aryans (P>0.05). Age-wise, higher incidence (34.4%) was observed in the age group of 36 to approximately 50 years followed by over 50 years (29.0%), and 21 to approximately 35 years (24.4%) (P>0.05). Both RUT and culture positive rate increased with the severity of the problem. RUT results were confirmed also by PCR. All RUT positive patients were given a full course of new triple therapy (combination of two antibiotics: Clarythromycin and Amoxycillin and a proton-pump inhibitor: Omeprazole) for two weeks followed by extended monotherapy with Omeprazole for up to six weeks. Of the total, 168 (82.7%) patients were available for follow-up and all of them showed an improved condition with negative RUT.