Correlation between the degree of duodenal bulbar deformity and the density of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with active duodenal ulcers.
BACKGROUND
Duodenal ulcer with deformity of the bulb is evidence of a chronic process of ulcer disease. This prospective study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the degree of bulbar deformity and the density of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with duodenal ulcer.


METHODS
Patients with endoscopically proven active duodenal ulcers and a positive diagnosis of H. pylori infection were enrolled. Duodenal ulcers were divided into three types according to the degree of deformity of the bulb: type I, normal bulb; type II, mildly deformed; type III, markedly deformed. In each case, we evaluated the H. pylori density histologically. The density was graded according to the Sydney system (normal, mild, moderate, and marked).


RESULTS
A total of 95 duodenal ulcer patients were studied, including 25 with type I, 40 with type II, and 30 with type III duodenal ulcers. H. pylori density was correlated with deformity of the duodenal bulb: 16/25 (64%) patients with a type I ulcer had mild infection, 19/40 (47.5%) patients with a type II ulcer had moderate infection, and 15/30 (50%) patients with a type III ulcer had marked infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with active type II or III duodenal ulcers had greater densities of H. pylori than did those with type I ulcers. A tendency for higher H. pylori density was seen as the degree of deformity of the duodenal bulb increased.
Lai
Yung-Chih
YC
Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, 280 Jen-Ai Road, Section 4, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wang
Teh-Hong
TH
Liao
Chien-Chung
CC
Huang
Shih-Hung
SH
Wu
Chi-Hwa
CH
Yang
Sien-Sing
SS
Lee
Chia-Long
CL
Chen
Tzen-Kwan
TK
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies