title: The influence of Helicobacter pylori infection on the prevalence of endoscopic erosive esophagitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to determine the frequency of endoscopic esophagitis and Helicobacter pylori infection in a large Turkish population over a 6-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a consecutive series of 14,380 patients who had been newly referred for diagnostic esophagogastroduodenoscopy from 2000 to 2006. The mean age value was 45 +/- 10 (18-89) years. All endoscopic findings were retrospectively evaluated. Two antral and two corpus biopsies were taken from patients for rapid urease test. Endoscopic esophagitis was defined as the presence of erosions and/or ulceration. The relationship between erosive esophagitis and various relevant factors was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of endoscopic esophagitis was 7.8% (95% CI, 6.9-8.1). The prevalence of positive rapid urease test was 49% (95% CI, 38-53) in patients with esophagitis and 85% (95% CI, 70-96) in patients without esophagitis (p < .001). From 2000 to 2006, the frequency of endoscopic esophagitis and the rate of positive rapid urease test remained unchanged. After adjusting for the effects of mean age, male gender, and percentage of hiatal hernia, there was a 0.785% risk reduction in esophagitis with every 1% increase in the rate of positive rapid urease test result.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of endoscopic esophagitis is significantly lower in patients with a positive rapid urease test result. This negative correlation with H. pylori infection reflects a protective effect of H. pylori from endoscopic esophagitis in a Turkish population and deserves further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selahattin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.forename: Tarkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karakan
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cindoruk
authors.forename: Sukru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dumlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014456:Ulcer / Q000473:pathology; D014495:Universities; D014510:Urease / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014510:Urease