Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori prevalence and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in HIV/AIDS patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in the University Teaching Hospitals in Cameroon.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and of various upper gastrointestinal (GI) lesions in HIV+patients with GI symptoms and the relation of H. pylori infection to CD4 cell counts.


METHODS
In all, 56 HIV+patients and 56 age- and sex-matched HIV-controls, all with upper GI symptoms, were evaluated by an upper endoscopy examination and gastric biopsy. H. pylori status was assessed with a urease test and histology. HIV was diagnosed with the rapid test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The prevalence of H. pylori was 50% (28/56 [95%CI 36.3-63.7]) in HIV+subjects and 55% (31/56 [95%CI 41.5-68.7]) in HIV-controls (p = 0.57). H. pylori infection rates did not differ significantly in HIV+patients between those with a CD4 count ≥200/mm3(52%) and those with a CD4 count <200/mm3(42%) (p = 0.62). The prevalence on endoscopy of specific lesions in HIV+patients and controls were compared: esophageal candidiasis (61%, 34/56 vs. 7%; p<0.0001), esophageal ulcers (18%, 10/56 vs 2%; p = 0.01), corpus gastritis (41%; 23/56 vs 5%; p<0.0001), and duodenitis (20%, 11/56, vs 0%; p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence rate of H. pylori did not differ significantly between HIV+and HIV-subjects. Prevalence of H. pylori was also lower, although not significantly, among HIV+patients with CD4 T-cell counts below 200/mm3. On endoscopy, esophageal candidiasis was the most common finding in HIV+patients, discovered by dysphagia.
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, 7132 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Andoulo
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, 7132 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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M
Kowo
Centre médical la Cathédrale, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
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Ngatcha
Unité de formation et de recherche des sciences médicales, université Félix-Houphouet-Boigny, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
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Ndam
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, 7132 Yaoundé, Cameroon.
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Awouoyiegnigni
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, 7132 Yaoundé, Cameroon, Hôpital central de Yaoundé, Cameroun.
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Sida
Université de Douala, Douala, Cameroun, Centre médical les Capucines, Douala, Cameroun.
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Tzeuton
Centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé, faculté de médecine et des sciences biomédicales, université de Yaoundé I, 7132 Yaoundé, Cameroon, Hôpital général de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
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EC
Ndjitoyap Ndam
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004382:Duodenitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014456:Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
Cameroon; HIV; Helicobacter pylori; endoscopy; prevalence