title: Helicobacter pylori infection in bleeding peptic ulcer patients after non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug consumption.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with a bleeding peptic ulcer after consumption of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A very early upper endoscopy was performed to find the source of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and to take biopsy specimens for analysis of H. pylori infection by the rapid urease (CLO) test, histological examination, and bacterial culture. IgG anti-CagA were also sought. The gold standard for identifying H. pylori infection was positive culture of biopsy specimens or contemporary positivity of the CLO test and the presence of H. pylori on tissue sections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty patients, 61 males (76.3%), mean age 61.2 ± 15.9 years, were consecutively enrolled. Forty-seven (58.8%) patients occasionally consumed NSAIDs, while 33 (41.3%) were on chronic treatment with low-dose aspirin (LD ASA). Forty-four (55.0%) patients were considered infected by H. pylori. The infection rate was not different between patients who occasionally or chronically consumed NSAIDs. The culture of biopsy specimens had a sensitivity of 86.4% and a specificity of 100%; corresponding figures for histological analysis were 65.9% and 77.8%, for the CLO test were 68.2% and 75%, for the combined use of histology and the CLO test were 56.8% and 100%, and for IgG anti-CagA were 90% and 98%. The highest accuracy (92.5%) was obtained with the culture of biopsy specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with a bleeding peptic ulcer after NSAID/LD ASA consumption frequently have H. pylori infection. Biopsy specimen culture after an early upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy seems the most efficient test to detect this infection.
authors: Complex Operating Unit of Gastroenterology, AORN A Cardarelli, 80131 Napoli, Italy. manguso@alice.it
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Manguso
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Riccio
authors: Germana
authors: G
authors: de Nucci
authors: Maria Luisa
authors: ML
authors: Aiezza
authors: Gerardino
authors: G
authors: Amato
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Degl'Innocenti
authors: Maria Maddalena
authors: MM
authors: Piccirillo
authors: Gianfranco
authors: G
authors: De Dominicis
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: Santoro
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Trimarco
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Balzano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015897:Comorbidity; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System; D005260:Female; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications*; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal