Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection in Peptic Ulcer Patients of Highly Endemic Kashmir Valley.

Objective This study aimed to find out prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in peptic ulcer disease (PUD) which is highly endemic disease in Kashmir.Method This study consisted of 50 PUD patients and 30 asymptomatic volunteers. Peptic ulcer was diagnosed by endoscopic examination and H. pylori was detected by histology (using Giemsa stain), one minute endoscopy room test (OMERT) and modified Gram's staining. Positive results from OMERT plus histology were considered as the "gold standard" for the presence of H. pylori.Results Out of 50 patients, 46 had duodenal ulcer (DU), 2 had benign gastric ulcer (GU) and 2 had both DU and GU. The sensitivity and specificity of OMERT were 94% and 96.70%, histology 97.90% and 96.90% and Gram's staining 91.30% and 85.30%, respectively, as compared to our gold standards. H. pylori was present in 76.09% of DU, 50% of GU, whereas patients with duodenitis, channel ulcers, chronic active DU and those with multiple ulcers were 100% H. pylori positive. H. pylori was present in 10 (33.33%) of healthy volunteers.Conclusion A significant association between H. pylori infection and PUD was found in this study. However, there seem to be other causative factors as well which contribute for this highly endemic disease.

Helicobacter pylori associated antral gastritis in peptic ulcer disease patients and normal healthy population of kashmir, India.

AIM: To study the association of Helicobacter pylori infection with chronic antral gastritis in peptic ulcer disease patients and healthy population of Kashmir. METHODS: 50 peptic ulcer patients (duodenal ulcer = 46, gastric ulcer = 2 and combined duodenal and gastric ulcer = 2) and 30 asymptomatic healthy volunteers were included in this study. Peptic ulcer was diagnosed on endoscopic examination. 4-6 punch biopsies were taken from gastric antrum in all the individuals and in case of gastric ulcer an additional biopsy was taken from the edge of the ulcer to exclude its malignant nature. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) organism was diagnosed using three different test methods, viz. Histology (using Giemsa Stain), Microbiology (Gram Stain) and Biochemistry (using one minute Endoscopy Room Test). Histological diagnosis of H. pylori was taken as the "gold standard" for the presence of H. pylori organism. Histological diagnosis of gastritis was made using Hematoxylin and Eosin Stain and the gastritis was classified as active chronic gastritis and superficial chronic gastritis. RESULTS: Out of 30 peptic ulcer disease patients with associated antral gastritis, 27 (90%) were positive for H. pylori on histological examination (13 superficial chronic gastritis and 14 active chronic gastritis) whereas out of 8 healthy volunteers with histological evidence of chronic antral gastritis, H. pylori was observed in 7 individuals (87.50%) (4 active chronic gastritis and 3 superficial chronic gastritis). CONCLUSION: A highly significant association between H. pylori infection with chronic antral gastritis both in peptic ulcer disease patients and healthy volunteers of Kashmir was found in this study. Association between H. pylori infection and chronic gastritis was 90% in peptic ulcer group and 87.50% in healthy population (P<0.005).

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Various ABO Blood Groups of Kashmiri Population.

AIM: This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in various ABO blood groups of people of Kashmir. METHOD: The study comprised 80 individuals - 50 peptic ulcer patients (whose disease was diagnosed by endoscopy) and 30 asymptomatic volunteers. Every subject's blood group and Rhesus status was determined by standard serological tests. Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed by three different methods viz., one minute endoscopy room test (urease test), Gram staining and by histology. The detection of Helicobacter pylori by histological examination using Giemsa staining was taken as the 'gold standard' for the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. RESULTS: Out of 80 individuals, 67 were males and 13 females aged between 18-65 years. The majority of peptic ulcer patients had blood group 'O' (n = 28.56%). The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection amongst peptic ulcer patients was 76%. There was no difference in Helicobacter pylori positivity in various blood groups. CONCLUSION: Blood group 'O' though a risk factor for peptic ulcer (Duodenal ulcer) is not a risk factor for acquiring Helicobacter pylori infection.