Helicobacter pylori infection in haemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
It is known that Helicobacter pylori (Hp) plays an important role in gastritis and peptic ulcer disease in the general population. Although dyspeptic complaints are frequent in haemodialysis (HD) patients and renal transplant recipients, there are few reports regarding the prevalence of Hp and its possible effects on this group of patients. This study was performed to examine the prevalence of Hp infection in patients on regular HD treatment and to detect its role in the pathogenesis of dyspepsia in this group of patients.


METHODS
Two hundred and one patients with dyspeptic complaints were included in the study. The groups consisted of 47 HD, 54 renal transplant recipients, and 100 non-renal disease patients. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopies were performed and gastric antral biopsies were obtained for urease test in all patients.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight (60%) of the 47 HD and 38 (70%) of the 54 RTR were positive for Hp. Sixty-four (64%) of the 100 patients with various gastrointestinal complaints and known to have no renal dysfunction were positive for Hp. The Hp prevalences among the three groups were not significantly different (P > 0.05). The prevalence of Hp infection did not correlate with the haemodialysis duration nor the post-transplantation duration (P > 0.05). There was no correlation between the prevalence of Hp infection and duration of haemodialysis therapy or time post-transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that HD patients are not protected against Hp infection as the Hp prevalences are as high as that for the non-renal disease group. The increased dyspeptic complaints may be partly related to Hp infection.
Ozgür
O
O
Başkent University Hospital, Turkey.
Boyacioğlu
S
S
Ozdoğan
M
M
Gür
G
G
Telatar
H
H
Haberal
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*