RESUMO
Thirty patients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis [RA] were studied for the presence of H. pylori organisms. All patients were receiving NSAIDs and 17 of them were receiving also second line antirheumatic drugs. The study included also 12 healthy subjects age and sex matched, as controls. Biopsy specimens were taken from the pyloric antrum and first part of the duodenum and examined baleriologically by gram stain, urase test and culture. The frequency of endoscopic abnormalities was significantly higher in patients than controls [P< 0.05]. Those abnormalities were gastritis 26.7%, doudenitis 13.33%, superficial gastric ulerations 10%, duodenal ulcer 10% and oesophagitis 6.7%. H, pylori infection was found in 46.67% of the patients and in 33.33% of the controls. The difference was statistically insignificant. Patients who were receiving NSAIDs for more than 6 weeks showed significant endoscopic abnormalitis than others [p<0.02], while there was no significant difference as regards H. pylori infection. While group of patients with anaemia showed higher frequency of endoscopic abnormalities [P<0.02] than non anaemics, yet there was no significant difference in prevalence of H. pylori infection. Also patients who were receiving second line antirheumatic drugs [mainly gold injections] in addition to NSAIDs showed significant endoscopic gastroduodenal abnormalities [P<0.02] but insignificant H. pylori infection than patients receiving NSAIDs only. In conclusion, we did not find any relationship between H. pylori infection and the gastroduodenai abnormalities found in rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving NSAIDs or second line antirheumatic drugs