Résumé
Helicobacter pylori remains widely prevalent today despite modern medical advances.1 It is responsible for an ever increasing number of gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal diseases.2 Objective was to compare the efficacy of H and E staining with immunohistochemistry in the detection of H. pylori in gastric biopsies. It was a descriptive study and was carried out in the Pathology Department, Post Graduate Medical Institute, Lahore - Pakistan during the period of 1.2.211 to 30.10. 2011. Seventy gastric biopsies were collected from Lahore General Hospital, Lahore. The tissue sections were stained with routine haematoxylin and eosin [H and E] stain and also with H. pylori immunostain. Histopathological examination of the sections was carried out under an optical microscope. The results of histological examination [H and E as well as immuno - staining], and clinical data were subjected to statistical analysis. Helicobacter pylori was detected by H and E staining in 27.2% of our 70 cases while 72.8% were negative for this. In 20% cases there was mild colonisation where in 7.1% this was moderate. Immunohistochemistry carried out with Helicobacter pylori immunostain yielded 31.4% positive cases while 68.6% were negative. Among the 70 cases there were 64.3% males and 35.7% females. The maximum number of cases were found to be in the age group of 20 - 29 years and was 18 or 25.71%. This was followed by age groups 30 - 39 years and 50 - 59 years each of which had 12 [71.14%] patients. Age was compared in male and female patients. There was no significant age difference among males and females. A comparison between mean age in H. pylori positive and negative cases was also carried out. There was no significant correlation between age and H. pylori detection. A comparison between sex distribution and H. pylori positive and negative cases did not yield any significant difference between males and females. Histopathological examination of gastric biopsies is still an accurate and efficient means of diagnosis. Immunostaining increases the diagnostic yield