Upper gastrointestinal abnormalities and Helicobacter pylori in Behçet's disease.
BACKGROUND
There are few published clinical trials concerning upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Behçet's disease (BD), and most have been performed on patients with upper GI tract symptoms.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether routine endoscopy is indicated in asymptomatic patients with BD and whether Helicobacter pylori plays a role in the pathogenesis of BD.


METHODS
Forty consecutive patients with BD and 40 age- and gender-matched controls with tinea pedis were studied. All patients underwent fiberoptic esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Urea breath test was used to identify H. pylori.


RESULTS
Abnormalities were noted in 37 patients (93%): hiatal hernia (53%), antral gastritis (33%), pan-gastritis (23%), gastric ulceration (8%), and duodenal ulceration (8%). Helicobacter pylori was found in 26 patients (65%) with BD and in 28 controls (70%) (no significant difference by chi-squared test, P > 0.05). We found a high incidence of upper GI abnormalities in BD, but the abnormalities were not specific for the disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Routine endoscopy and screening for H. pylori infection may not be necessary in asymptomatic patients with BD.
Cakmak
Seray Külcü
SK
2nd Dermatology Clinic, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, and General Surgery Department, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. seraycakmak@gmail.com
Cakmak
Atil
A
Gül
Ulker
U
Sulaimanov
Marlen
M
Bingöl
Pelin
P
Hazinedaroğlu
M Selçuk
MS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult