Helicobacter pylori associated gastroduodenal problem among the Nepalese.

ABSTRACT

Present study was undertaken during a period of eighteen months (April 2001 to October 2002) to see an association of Helicobacter pylori with the gastric problems among the Nepalese. This study comprised of 203 subjects (Males 154 and Females 49) aged 21 to 71 years with gastric problems. The biopsy samples taken from the stomach and duodenum using endoscope were tested for the presence of H. pylori by in-house rapid urease test (RUT) and culture. Representative samples were also tested by PCR. Of the total 203, 60 (29.5%) were RUT positive. Marginally high RUT positive rate was observed in males compared with females (P>0.95). Same was true with ethnic group with a marginally higher positive rate among Tibeto-Burmans compared with Indo-Aryans (P>0.05). Age-wise, higher incidence (34.4%) was observed in the age group of 36 to approximately 50 years followed by over 50 years (29.0%), and 21 to approximately 35 years (24.4%) (P>0.05). Both RUT and culture positive rate increased with the severity of the problem. RUT results were confirmed also by PCR. All RUT positive patients were given a full course of new triple therapy (combination of two antibiotics Clarythromycin and Amoxycillin and a proton-pump inhibitor Omeprazole) for two weeks followed by extended monotherapy with Omeprazole for up to six weeks. Of the total, 168 (82.7%) patients were available for follow-up and all of them showed an improved condition with negative RUT.