Cytotoxin associated gene A-positive Helicobacter pylori strains in dyspeptic pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to compare the Helicobacter pylori (HP) seropositivity and cytotoxin associated gene A (cagA) status in pregnant women with dyspeptic complaints and pregnant women with no gastrointestinal symptoms.


METHODS
Seventy-one consecutive pregnant women with gastrointestinal complaints and 72 age-matched pregnant women without any gastrointestinal symptoms or a history of gastrointestinal disease were included in the study. Demographic characteristics and H. pylori and cytotoxin associated gene A status of the groups were analysed.


RESULTS
The prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was slightly but not significantly higher in patients with dyspeptic complaints compared to the controls (74.6% versus 63.8%, respectively, P > 0.05). The incidence of dyspeptic complaints were 53.5% in HP-seropositive and 40.9% in HP-seronegative women (P > 0.05). The prevalence of cytotoxin associated gene A positivity among H. pylori-seropositive women was significantly higher in dyspeptic pregnants compared to the controls (75.5% versus 45.7%, respectively, P = 0.002). Among HP-seropositive women, the incidence of dyspeptic complaints was significantly higher in cagA-positive patients compared to the cagA-negative ones (65.6% versus 34.2%, respectively, P = 0.002). When analysed according to the trimesters, the prevalence of cytotoxin associated gene A positivity among H. pylori-seropositive women was significantly higher in dyspeptic pregnants compared to the controls in the first trimester (68.0% versus 34.8%, respectively, P = 0.021).


CONCLUSIONS
Cytotoxin associated gene A-positive, virulent H. pylori strains were found to be more frequently associated with dyspeptic complaints in pregnant women.
Noyan
Volkan
V
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale University School of Medicine, Saglick Sokak, Kirikkale, Turkey. vnoyan@hotmail.com
Apan
Teoman Z
TZ
Yucel
Aykan
A
Sagsoz
Nevin
N
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; C080866:cagA protein, Helicobacter pylori