The influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the development of gastric ulcer in symptomatic patients after bariatric surgery.
BACKGROUND
There are few data relating to the role of H. pylori infection and surgical procedures on the occurrence of gastric ulcer following bariatric surgery.


METHODS
Subjects with upper gastrointestinal symptoms after bariatric surgery and receiving gastroscopic examinations were prospectively enrolled. All clinical data including age, sex, BMI before surgery, and surgical method were recorded. IgG antibodies against H. pylori were measured in preoperative serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
A cohort of 636 patients undergoing laparoscopic vertical banded gastroplasty (LVBG) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP) was recruited. The seropositivity of H. pylori in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after surgery was 39% (32/82) and 39.7% (220/554) respectively. Endoscopic examinations revealed that 22 (26.8%) of 82 symptomatic patients had a gastric ulcer. Comparison of demographic characteristics between patients with ulcer (n=22) and patients without ulcer (n=60) showed no difference in distribution of gender, age, BMI, and seroprevalence of H. pylori (27.3%, 6/22 vs 43.3%, 26/60, P=0.212). Patients undergoing LRYGBP showed a higher rate of gastric ulcer (45.5%, 10/22) when compared to patients undergoing LVBG (20%, 12/60; P=0.027).


CONCLUSIONS
Gastric ulcers in symptomatic patients following laparoscopic bariatric surgery are related to surgical procedures rather than exposure to H. pylori infection.
Yang
Chang-Shyue
CS
Department of Internal Medicine, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taiwan.
Lee
Wei-Jei
WJ
Wang
Hsi-Hshi
HH
Huang
Shi-Pei
SP
Lin
Jaw-Town
JT
Wu
Ming-Shiang
MS
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass; D015391:Gastroplasty; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology