Helicobacter pylori in diabetics with and without neuropathy: relation to metabolic control and gastric emptying

ABSTRACT

This work was carried out on 60 diabetic patients and 20 healthy subjects as control. For each diabetic patient and for the control, the followings were done history and clinical examination, laboratory investigations including fasting blood sugar, post-prandial blood sugar, HBA1c, lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests. Also, assessment of autonomic functions, gastroscopy and biopsy for rapid urease test, estimation of serum gastrin and gastric scintigraphy for evaluation of gastric motility. The results were as follow patients with autonomic neuropathy demonstrated a higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylon [HP +ve] than those without and controls. Patients with motility disorder also showed a significant higher level of HP +ve than those without and controls. Diabetic patients had a significantly higher level of serum gastrin than controls. Conclusion: H. pylon prevalence was higher in diabetics and it was higher in those with autonomic neuropathy and dysmotility. Serum gastrin was significantly higher in those H. pylon positive patients. H.pylori infection tends to cause antral gastritis or pangastritis in diabetics rather than peptic ulcer especially in those with autonomic neuropathy. Non-ulcer dyspepsia is common in diabetics. Treatment of H. pylon infection may be of great benefit for metabolic control