[Detection of Helicobacter pylori by the urease test in 244 patients]. / Recherche d'Hélicobacter pylori chez 244 patients par le test à l'uréase.

The authors report the results of the detection of Helicobacter Pylori (HP) in gastric mucosa by the urease test, in 244 patients between January 1989 and August 1991. The overall prevalence of HP was 38.1%. It was 19.5% in patients with normal upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UE), 61% in duodenal ulcer (p < 0.001) and 68.7% in congestive antritis (p < 0.001), significantly higher than in controls. There was no significant difference between controls and patients with erosive antritis or healed duodenal ulcers. The prevalence of HP rises with age in all patients and in those with lesions at UE but not in those with normal UE. A rise of this prevalence seems to exist in the months of June and December. The authors conclude by pointing out the rise of the overall prevalence of HP in congestive antritis compared with erosive antritis, the similarity of prevalence in normal subjects and those with healed ulcer and the lack of influence of age on this prevalence in subjects with normal UE. These conclusions are in need of confirmation by further studies on much more longer series.

[Famotidine in the treatment of stomach ulcer]. / La famotidine dans le traitement de l'ulcère gastrique.

In order to evaluate the efficacity and tolerance of Famotidine in the treatment of gastric ulcer, in Lebanese patients, we conducted a prospective open study in twenty one patients with benign gastric ulcer. A clinical, endoscopic and biological evaluation was done before, at 4 weeks and if necessary at 8 weeks after the start of 40 mg of Famotidine per day. All patients were carefully monitored at regular intervals for adverse drug reactions by clinical and biological examinations. The healing rate at 4 and 8 weeks was 75% and 91% respectively. The treatment was well tolerated and no modifications in laboratory tests were observed. Famotidine therefore proved effective in the treatment of gastric ulcer and was well tolerated on a short term basis.