RESUMO
BACKGROUND: One of the major problems when evaluating dyspeptic patients at public hospitals is the large interval between the consultation and the endoscopy, leading to the prescription of antisecretory drugs, what can be responsible for false results on examinations. AIM: To evaluate changes in ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori by antisecretory drugs. METHODS: In a prospective double-blind study, 50 patients with dyspeptic complaints and endoscopic diagnosis of peptic ulcer, erosive gastritis, esophagitis or duodenitis with a positive urease test, were randomized to a 7-day course of treatment with either omeprazole 20 mg or ranitidine 300 mg a day. Before and after treatment, two biopsy specimens each were obtained from the antrum and corpus and an ultrarapid urease test and a histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori were performed. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in the results of ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori after treatment with ranitidine. With omeprazole, we observed a decrease in positive results in ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori in the antrum, but not in the corpus. CONCLUSION: Omeprazole, used for 7 days can lead to negative results in ultrarapid urease test and histopathological examination for Helicobacter pylori in the antrum, and should not be employed in patients before the endoscopy is performed.
