frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection in beta Thalassemia major patients with recurrent abdominal pain

ABSTRACT

To determine the frequency of Helicobacter Pylori [HP] seroprevalence and infection in beta Thalassemia major[TM] patients and to compare between beta TM patients and controls both presenting with recurrent abdominal pain [RAP]. The study group included 62 TM and 41 healthy controls with RAP. Serum samples were examined for anti-HP antibody using an HPIgG ELISA. Urea-breath test was applied to patients with positive HPIgG by using [14]C. In 36 of TM patients [58.1%] and 20 of healthy children [48.8%] HPIgG [+] was stated. In terms of HPIgG frequency, no difference was found between TM and control groups [p=0.354]. The Urea-breath test given to the TM patients and healthy children with HPIgG [+], test in 30 TM patient [48.4%] and 16 healthy children [39%] the Urea-breath test was found to be positive [p=0.34]. With Urea-breath test of TM patients, statistically a significant relationships were found between ALT level, epigastric pain, periumbilical pain, splenectomy and age [respectively p=0.02, p=0.03, p=0.00, p=0.01]. Helicobacter Pylori in our developing country may be one of the causes of RAP in TM patients as well as healthy children