Helicobacter pylori: efectividad del tratamiento secuencial vs tratamiento convencional / Helicobacter pylori: effectiveness of conventional treatment versus sequential treatment

Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter p.) es una bacteria que se aloja a nivel de la mucosa gástrica la cual presenta una prevalencia variable y está asociada al desarrollo de úlceras pépticas, linfomas y cáncer gástrico. Aproximadamente el 40% de los individuos en países desarrollados están afectados y hasta un 85%, en los países subdesarrollados, por ello, se asocia con un bajo nivel socioeconómico. Recientemente se ha propuesto el uso de una terapia secuencial con el objetivo de erradicar la infección por Helicobacter p. El objetivo de este estudio consiste en comparar la efectividad de ambos tratamientos en la consulta del Servicio de Gastroenterología del Hospital “Carlos J. Bello” en el período de febrero 2008 a octubre 2009, en un total de 83 pacientes, 77,1% de sexo femenino, y 22,9% de sexo masculino. El grupo que recibió tratamiento convencional representó el 57,83%, del total de pacientes estudiados, y el grupo que recibió tratamiento secuencial, representó el 42,17%. En cuanto a la efectividad, el tratamiento convencional fue efectivo en un 46,99%, y el secuencial en un 32,53%, dentro de su propio grupo de pacientes. La prueba X2 no representó diferencia significativa entre la efectividad de ambos tratamientos.

Helicobacter pylori (Helicobacter p. ) Its a bacteria that lives in the gastric mucosa and its prevalence is variable and it is associated to the development of peptic ulcer, lymphoma, and gastric cancer. Approximately 40% of individuals in developed countries are affected and 85% in undeveloped countries in which are related to low socioeconomics level. Recently its been proposed the use of a sequential therapy to eradicate the infection by Helicobacter p. The objective of this study consist in to compare the effectiveness between both treatments (Sequential and conventional) in the consult from the Gastroenterology Service of the Carlos J. Bello Hospital in a period of time between February 2008 to October 2009 in a total of 83 patients, 77,1% feminine, 22,9% masculine. The group that received conventional treatment represented 57,83% and sequential 42,17%. In regard to the effectiveness the conventional group presented 46, 99% and sequential group 32, 53%. The X2 test it didn’t present significative difference of effectiveness between both treatments.

[Anti-HCV in patients without risk factors for hepatitis C. Prospective study in 200 patients]. / Anti-VHC en pacientes sin factores de riesgo para hepatitis C. Estudio prospectivo en 200 pacientes.

Using a second generation enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against Hepatitis C virus (HCV), we investigated the frequency of antibodies anti-HCV and the Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) plasma levels of 200 patients without history of viral hepatitis, liver diseases, blood transfusions, intravenous drugs abuse, homosexuality, hemodialysis, infection by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), nor workers of health services. There plasma samples (1.5%), were positives for antibodies anti-HCV, all of these samples were confirmed by RIBA (Recombinant Immunoblot Assay). In these three patients, the ALT plasma level were more than two folds the normal upper limit, another six patients had high ALT levels but less than one fold the normal upper limit. None of the infected patients had any clues that suggested the possible way of infection in the clinic history. We concluded that the incidence of Hepatitis C in the studied patients is 1.5% and that the ALT levels could be used to identify Hepatitis C infection.