title: Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection correlation between clo-test (urease enzyme) and gastric mucosal histology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are few histopathologists in West African region. Histology results on gastric mucosal biopsies for Helicobacter pylori (HP) usually take between one to two weeks to be out. On the other hand, clo-test results for Helicobacter pylori can be read between 5 minutes to 24 hours. Is one justified to commence therapy based on the clo-test ahead of the histology result? Where there is no histopathology services as in many centers in West Africa can one rely on clo-test alone?
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correlation between clo-test (urease) and histological findings of gastric mucosal biopsies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Endoscopic unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty duodenal ulcer (DU) patients seen consecutively in the endoscopy unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy, antral biopsies for the clo-test and histopathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was 100% correlation between the clo-test and histological findings among all the 20 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clo-test (urease) is reliable enough to be used to commence therapy aimed at ulcer healing and HP eradication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, OAUTCH, Ile-Ife.
authors.forename: O A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Arigbabu
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ndubaba
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Agbakwuru
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Fadiora
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adeosun
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rotimi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000201:enzymology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014510:Urease
chemical_list: D014510:Urease