[Helicobacter pylori and gastroduodenal lesions in 547 symptomatic young adults].
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is involved in the pathogenesis of gastric inflammatory disorders. Both antral chronic gastritis and H. pylori infection prevalence increase with age. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection in young adults and to study the relationship between endoscopical and histological features and H. pylori infection.


METHODS
The study concerned 547 young patients (age: 18-25 years), undergoing endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. The severity and the activity of chronic gastritis was graded by histological examination of antral biopsies. The diagnosis of H. pylori infection was based on histology and culture or urease test.


RESULTS
Fifty-three percent of the patients had a normal endoscopy; 44 ulcers were found: 34 duodenal ulcers and 10 gastric ulcers. H. pylori infection was detected in 34% of cases. The prevalence of H. pylori infection was 29.8% in non-ulcer patients, 50% in gastric ulcers and 91% in duodenal ulcers (P < 0.01). Duodenal ulcer, aspect of antral mosaic mucosa and nodular gastritis, were closely related to the presence of H. pylori. There was a significant relationship between H. pylori infection and both the severity (P < 0.01) and the activity (P < 0.01) of the antral chronic gastritis. The prevalence of follicular gastritis was 22% : it was present in 60% of H. pylori positive patients and 2.4% of H. pylori negative patients. H. pylori infection was more frequent in patients from Africa than in Europeans (P < 0.01). There was no significant association between H. pylori infection and different types of diets, settlements (rural vs urban) or symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that in the young population studied, duodenal ulcer, nodular gastritis, antral mosaic mucosa, active chronic gastric and follicular gastritis are closely related to H. pylori infection. They suggest that in the subgroup of non ulcer symptomatic patients, H. pylori prevalence is higher than in the general population.
Rudelli
A
A
Service d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, CHU Nord, Amiens.
Vialette
G
G
Brazier
F
F
Seurat
P L
PL
Capron
D
D
Dupas
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005006:Ethnicity; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
Helicobacter pylori et lésions gastro-duodénales chez 547 jeunes adultes symptomatiques.