[Does Campylobacter Helicobacter pylori infection have a clinical relevance? Methodologic, epidemiologic and clinical...

The authors searched for Campylobacter pylori (CP) in gastric biopsies from 180 patients by means of microbiological culture. Warthin-Starry staining and urease activity determination. 50 patients with CP-positive antral gastritis were treated with bismuthsubsalicylate 2.4 g per day for 3 weeks, followed by a therapy-free interval of 7-10 days and then a control biopsy was performed. Combined results of bacterial culture and histology proved to be mostly reliable. The prevalence of CP in Hungary is similar to other European countries. CP-positivity was found at the following rates: endoscopically normal patients 30%; stump gastritis 30%; antral gastritis 75%; duodenal ulcer 89%. In all CP-positive cases chronic antral gastritis was seen, whereas normal antral mucosa was never CP-positive. There was no correlation between dyspeptic complaints and CP-positive chronic antral gastritis. Both decreased after bismuth therapy independently on the elimination of CP. CP-positivity in 2/3 of the control investigations points to fast recolonization. The clinical relevance of the CP-infection seems to be questionable.