[Helicobacter pylori in patients undergoing periodic hemodialysis]

Forty-nine haemodialyzed patients have been submitted consecutively, under informed consent, to endoscopy with multiple antral gastric mucosa biopsies for Helicobacter pylori (HP) identification, performed by urease, microscopic and cultural tests, as well as histologic examination. Patients have been considered HP negative when negative for all tests; positivity for HP has been correlated with gastritis histologically evaluated according to Whitehead; at endoscopy, blood samples for HP specific IgG, IgA, IgM have been collected; patient's life style concerning smoke, alcohol and drugs as FANS has been investigated as well. HP prevalence in our haemodialyzed patients is 38.8 per cent, similar to general population submitted to endoscopy; a statistically significant correlation between HP and gastritis and specific IgG, but no correlation between HP and age, dialysis duration, IgA, IgM, smoking, alcohol or drugs consumption has been found.