title: Co-infection with Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus in benign upper digestive diseases: An endoscopic and serologic pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some gastric cancers are Epstein-Barr virus associated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and viral co-infection in benign upper digestive diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and four outpatients were included in a prospective endoscopic-serologic study. Epstein-Barr virus immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M and viral capsid antigen titres were assayed with an ELISA test. Helicobacter pylori was determined by the modified Giemsa stain and by IgG-chemiluminescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of Helicobacter pylori was 56.7%. Duodenal ulcer patients were infected in 72.5 % of the cases, with the prevalence being 33.3% in functional dyspepsia (p = 0.0008) and 25.8% in reflux patients (p = 0.0001). Epstein-Barr virus IgG was detected in 70.1% of the whole group, 75% of duodenal ulcer patients, 51.2% of functional dyspepsia patients (p = 0.04) and 51.6% of the reflux disease cases (p = 0.04). Co-infection with both agents was detected in 60% of duodenal ulcer patients, 18.1% of functional dyspepsia (p = 0.00014) and 12.9% of reflux disease patients (p = 0.00012). Anti-viral IgG titre displayed a 31.7 ± 3.0 cut-off index in duodenal ulcer, 20.5 ± 3.5 in functional dyspepsia (p = 0.01) and 21.4 ± 3.6 in reflux cases (p = 0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both Helicobacter pylori and Epstein-Barr virus, and co-infection with these agents, were significantly more prevalent in duodenal ulcer patients than in dyspeptic/reflux patients.
authors.affiliation: Ferencváros Health Centre, Gastroenterology, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: György M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Buzás
authors.affiliation: Synlab Ltd, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konderák
keywords: Chronic gastritis; Epstein–Barr virus; Helicobacter pylori; duodenal ulcer; gastric infections