RESUMO
We anaylize in patients from high socio economic level the histologic findings of biopsies from the gastric mucosa taken endoscopically. Patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were examined with esophagogastroduodenoscopy. In the histologic study we considered: presence of Helicobacter pylori, mucinous damage, displasia, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Patients were divided in two groups: those who endoscocopically did not present gastric or duodenal active ulcer, gastric neoplasia or were not gastrectomized or vagotomized and those in which active gastric or duodenal ulcer was found. The first group was comprised of 1406 patients (647 women and 769 men). 57.33% (806) showed presence of Helicobacter pylori in the histologic study. Males presented higher prevalence of the bacteria (57.32% vs 42.68%, p=0.021873). Atrophys was found in 8.25% and was more frequent in patients with H. pylori (78.45% vs 21.55% p=0.0000026) / Intestinal metaplasla was found in 11.24% being related more with the presence of H.pylori (74.68% vs 25.32%, p=0.0000043). In the second group comprised of 232 patients: 192 males (82.7%) 82.75% showed presence of the bacteria. There was not a statistical difference by comparing sex and age vs presence of ulcer.
RESUMO
Compiling our observations from the last 15 years in regard to the epidemiology of Helicobacter pylori in Perú, we have analized 3005 cases. Studying and comparing the rates of infection among japanese inmigrants living in Perú for more than 10 years, niseis, japanese visitors and peruvians, we found similar rates. According to these results it seems that at least in japaneses there is not any genetic predisposition to acquire the infection. Studying peruvians of different socioeconomic levels, we observed similar rates of infection with the exception of women of high socioeconomic level. It seems that the last group of people is not exposed to the different mechanisms of infection. We found similar rates of infection in patients of low socioeconomic level living in the coast, sierra and jungle. Our studies in children showed that the infection is acquired during early childhood. Therefore in Perú we have not observed an ascending rate of infection according to age as has been described in industrialized countries. Analizing water from 48 sources we found Helicobacter pylori in 24 samples, 20 of them were taken from the municipal source of water. Water seems to be an important vehicle of infection, according to our studies, in children drinking water from different sources.
