Helicobacter pylori infection and hyperammonaemia in patients with chronic liver diseases

ABSTRACT

Thirty six patients with chronic liver diseases [either schistosomal or post-viral or mixed] and eight normal subjects, as a control group, were investigated. The chronic liver diseased patients were classified according to Child-Pugh classification into three main groups; group A = 8 patients, group B = 14 patients and group C = 14 patients. Patients were subjected to upper gastroduodenoscopy, diagnosis of H. pylori infection by pyloriset-EIA-G test and estimation of fasting blood ammonia level 2 weeks after neomycin therapy for eradication of gut flora. Diagnosis of H. pylori infection and blood ammonia level were done to the control group. It was concluded that the patient with chronic liver disease has a high H. pylori infection rate and those infected are at higher risk of hyperammonemia and hepatic encephalopathy, especially group B and C child classification. So, eradication of H. pylori infection in those patients may triggered the improvement of hepatic encephalopathy