engleski

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Objective: Our aim was to establish the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding and hospitalised at the Reference Centre for interventional gastroenterology of the Ministry of health of Republic of Croatia, Department of gastroenterology and hepatology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb in the period 2007–2011, and to investigate the time trends in that period. Methods: In 566 patients admitted to the hospital with acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding early upper endoscopy was performed to find the source of bleeding and to take biopsy specimens for identification of H. pylori infection and histological examination. Results: The main indications for endoscopy were melena (55.3%, 313/566) and hematemesis (25.3%, 143/566). The overall prevalence of H. pylori infection was 20.4 percent (115/566). In the period 2007–2011 there has been a decline in the prevalence of H. Pylori infection, from 25.2% (31/123) in 2007 to 18.4% (14/76) in 2011. Prevalence of the infection varied among patients with different endoscopic and histological diagnoses. Patients with peptic ulcer disease had the highest prevalence (25.2%, 79/313), compared to other endoscopic findings. According to histological findings in the gastric mucosa, prevalence of the bacteria was highest in patients who had chronic active gastritis (61%, 89/146). Conclusion: This research confirmed a reported decline in the overall prevalence of H. Pylori infection in patients presented with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Considering the fact that the prevalence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding remained mostly stable, a decline in prevalence of H. Pylori infection indicates that the major role in the etiology of bleeding in our country might have the abuse of non‐steroidal anti‐ inflammatory drugs. A longer study period, with more patients included may show more definite trends.

Helicobacter pylori, bleeding ulcer, upper GI bleeding

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