[Stomach ulcers and Helicobacter pylori. Clinical, endoscopic and histological characteristics].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to determine in a large group of patients with a gastric ulcer the differences between patients, ulcers and gastric mucosa as related to the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).


METHODS
This prospective study evaluated 150 patients with a benign gastric ulcer. A patient was considered as H. pylori positive on the basis of a positive culture or the presence of gastritis and another positive diagnostic test for H. pylori (urease test, cytology, histology, serology).


RESULTS
One hundred and five patients were positive for H. pylori (70%) whereas 45 patients were not infected (30%). There were significant differences regarding the clinical characteristics of patients, the ulcer and the mucosa. H. pylori positive patients differed in terms of past history of ulcer (63 vs 12%), age (57 vs 50 years), sex (48% males vs 24%) and consumption of non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (39 vs 75%). H. pylori positive ulcers were more often single (79 vs 53%) and located on the small curvature (76 vs 33%). Chronic gastritis was always present in positive patients, with associated intestinal metaplasia (35 vs 2%) and atrophy (45 vs 9%). Negative patients often had a normal gastric mucosa (53%) or reactive gastritis (27%).


CONCLUSIONS
Seventy percent of gastric ulcer are associated with H. pylori infection, corresponding to the classical ulcer. The majority of H. pylori negative ulcers appears to be associated to non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs.
Debongnie
J C
JC
Service de Gastroentérologie, Clinique Saint-Pierre, Ottignies, Belgique.
Burette
A
A
Glupczynski
Y
Y
De Prez
C
C
De Koninck
X
X
Donnay
M
M
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005748:Gastric Fundus / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000431:Ethanol
Ulcères gastriques et Helicobacter pylori. Caractéristiques cliniques, endoscopiques et histologiques.