Helicobacter pylori infection and upper gastrointestinal patholgy in a British immigrant Indian community.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the pattern of upper gastrointestinal pathology and the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the Southall Indian community.


METHODS
A prospective study of endoscopic findings in 124 Indian and 107 whites from the Southall area. In a separate study blood samples were taken from 100 Indian subjects presenting to a single general practitioner in Southall.


METHODS
The presence of gastritis and H. pylori infection was assessed histologically in Indian and white patients undergoing endoscopy. Serum samples were analysed using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G.


RESULTS
In the endoscopic study, Indian and white patients had the same rate of H. pylori infection (52% vs. 43%, respectively) (P= NS). The pattern of upper gastrointestinal pathology was similar in whites and Indians. In the general practice based study 41 subjects were H. pylori seropositive. Seropositivity increased with age (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There is no excess of H. pylori-related pathology in Southall immigrant Indians. The similarity of upper gastrointestinal pathology in UK Indian and white patients presenting for endoscopy suggests that the high rates of duodenal ulceration, gastritis and H. pylori infection in India are environmentally rather than racially determined.
Seery
J P
JP
Department of Medicine, Ealing Hospital NHS Trust, Middlesex, UK.
Henshaw
D J
DJ
Sandhu
P J
PJ
Mather
H M
HM
Ahmad
F
F
McNeil
I
I
Arnold
J D
JD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology