[Detection of Helicobacter pylori by the urease test in 244 patients]

The authors report the results of the detection of Helicobacter Pylori (HP) in gastric mucosa by the urease test, in 244 patients between January 1989 and August 1991. The overall prevalence of HP was 38.1%. It was 19.5% in patients with normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UE), 61% in duodenal ulcer (p < 0.001) and 68.7% in congestive antritis (p < 0.001), significantly higher than in controls. There was no significant difference between controls and patients with erosive antritis or healed duodenal ulcers. The prevalence of HP rises with age in all patients and in those with lesions at UE but not in those with normal UE. A rise of this prevalence seems to exist in the months of June and December. The authors conclude by pointing out the rise of the overall prevalence of HP in congestive antritis compared with erosive antritis, the similarity of prevalence in normal subjects and those with healed ulcer and the lack of influence of age on this prevalence in subjects with normal UE. These conclusions are in need of confirmation by further studies on much more longer series.