Upper gastrointestinal abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori in Behçet's disease

There are few published clinical trials concerning upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Behçet's disease (BD), and most have been performed on patients with upper GI tract symptoms.

We sought to determine whether routine endoscopy is indicated in asymptomatic patients with BD and whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis of BD.

Forty consecutive patients with BD and 40 age- and gender-matched controls with tinea pedis were studied. All patients underwent fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Urea breath test was used to identify H. pylori.

Abnormalities were noted in 37 patients (93%): hiatal hernia (53%), antral gastritis (33%), pan-gastritis (23%), gastric ulceration (8%), and duodenal ulceration (8%). Helicobacter pylori was found in 26 patients (65%) with BD and in 28 controls (70%) (no significant difference by chi-squared test, P > 0.05). We found a high incidence of upper GI abnormalities in BD, but the abnormalities were not specific for the disorder.

Routine endoscopy and screening for H. pylori infection may not be necessary in asymptomatic patients with BD.