Helicobacter pylori infection among offspring of patients with stomach cancer.
OBJECTIVE
A positive family history is associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer. We compared the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, a known risk factor for stomach cancer, between subjects with and without parental history of stomach cancer to evaluate a potential role of H. pylori infection in familial aggregation of stomach cancer.


METHODS
A total of 1351 men and women aged 30-74 years who participated in the German Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in the western part of Germany in 1987-1988 were included in the study. Detailed information on sociodemographic factors, nutritional factors, and parental history of cancer was obtained by standardized interviews. Serum samples were analyzed for immunoglobulin G antibodies against H. pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The prevalence of H. pylori infection was much higher (69%) among subjects with a parental history of stomach cancer than among other subjects (44%). This association persisted after control for potential confounders by multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.9), and was particularly strong among subjects below age 55 (adjusted odds ratio, 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-16.1).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that familial aggregation of stomach cancer may be explained at least partly by familial clustering of H. pylori infection.
Brenner
H
H
Department of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Bode
G
G
Boeing
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G