Frequency of CagA in helicobacter pylori isolates of patients with peptic ulcer diseases [PUD] and nonulcer dyspepsia [NUD] at Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran

Data concerning the information on the prevalence and association of the Helicobacter pylori cytotoxinassociated gene A [CagA] with disease is still controversial. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify H. pylori by culture methode from biopsy specimens and its relationship with associated diseases by molecular techniques [PCR]. Gastric biopsy specimens obtained from 220 patients [aged 18 to 68 years] were evaluated for presence of H. pylori using PCR assay on isolates for CagA gene. From 220 patients that included in this study, 120 patients, 51 from PUD [38 duodenal ulcer and 13 gastric ulcer] and 69 from NUD patients [35 gastritis, 18 reflux disease without and 16 with esophagitis] yielded positive for H. pylori culture. Frequency of CagA gene in H. pylori isolated from patients with peptic ulcer diseases [PUD] and non-ulcer dyspepsia [NUD] was 82.3% and 59.4%, respectively. Our data confirmed that CagA gene in H. pylori is a virulence factor with high frequency in PUD. Therefore, we suggest that detection of H. pylori gene expression may contribute in improving the diagnosis and understanding the pathogenesis of H. pylori infections