Helicobacter pylori in dyspeptic patients in Kuwait

Article Abstract:

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been associated with gastrointestinal disorders including gastritis (inflammation of the stomach mucous membranes), gastric metaplasia (the appearance of gastric mucosal tissue in the duodenum), duodenitis (inflammation of the upper portion of the small intestine), and duodenal ulcer. Dyspepsia is a set of symptoms characterized by painful or impaired digestion; it is a common gastrointestinal disorder among people seeking medical attention in Kuwait. Previous studies have indicated that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms is two to three times more common in Arab populations than in Caucasians. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia was determined using gastrointestinal biopsy samples from 204 patients living in Kuwait; most were of Arab descent. Fifty percent of the patients had normal gastric and duodenal mucosa, while the rest showed signs of gastritis, duodenitis, gastric ulcer or duodenal ulcer. However, H. pylori was detected in 96.6 percent of the biopsy samples. These findings indicate that H. pylori was present in the gastric mucosa of patients whose gastric mucosa appeared to have a normal histology. While this might suggest that H. pylori is not a cause of disease, patients with normal-appearing mucosa did have symptoms of dyspepsia. Thus it is concluded that in this sample population, H. pylori is common in gastrointestinal disorders and its presence may serve as an early indicator of gastrointestinal disease that will develop in the future. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Demographic aspects, Ulcers, Kuwait, Gastritis, Digestive system diseases, Prevalence studies (Epidemiology)

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Breakdown of gastric mucus in presence of Helicobacter pylori

Article Abstract:

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a species of bacteria that grows in the mucous membranes lining the stomach (gastric mucosa), and has been isolated from the stomachs of patients with gastric ulcers. Also, previous studies have suggested that H. pylori infection may be related to gastric metaplasia (the abnormal appearance of stomach mucous cells) in the intestines of patients with duodenal ulcers. Other studies have shown that the mucous lining of the stomach is altered in patients with gastric ulcers. The proteins that make up the stable portion of the mucous lining, called mucous glycoproteins, appear to be degraded or broken down in patients with gastric ulcer. The exact cause of this is unknown but recent reports have implicated that H. pylori may be involved. It has been hypothesized that H. pylori may produce enzymes that degrade the mucous membranes of the stomach. To determine if H. pylori can cause the breakdown of the mucous membranes of the stomach, samples of H. pylori were taken from tissue of patients with gastric ulcer. When H. pylori were grown on samples of stomach mucous membranes, they caused the mucous proteins to degrade. The stomach mucous membrane is like a gel that is made from mucous proteins that come together to form a stable membrane. It is proposed that H. pylori can cause these proteins to come apart, which in turn disrupts the structure and integrity of the membrane. This may be an important way in which H. pylori can establish itself and grow in the mucous membrane of the stomach. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects, Helicobacter pylori, Peptic ulcer, Biopsy, Gastric mucosa

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Helicobacter pylori and ABO blood groups

Article Abstract:

Helicobacter pylori is a bacteria that grows in the mucous membranes that line the stomach. It has been suggested as a major cause of gastritis (inflammation of the membranes lining the stomach). It also plays an important role in the development of ulcers in the intestines (duodenal ulcer disease). It is estimated that 90 to 100 percent of the patients with duodenal ulcers also have infections with H. pylori. For many years, people with type O blood have been considered to be at greater risk for developing duodenal ulcers than people with other blood types, but the exact reason for this is unknown. If people with type O blood are at greater risk for duodenal ulcers, they perhaps are also at greater risk for developing infection with H. pylori. To test this hypothesis, 402 healthy blood donors were tested for blood type and infection with H. pylori. An individual was considered to have had an infection with H. pylori if antibodies against H. pylori were present in the blood. Forty-four percent of the blood donors had type O blood; 45 percent were type A; 8 percent were type B; and 3 percent were type AB. Of the 402 blood donors, 143 (36 percent) tested positive for H. pylori. Of those who tested positive for H. pylori; 39 percent had type O blood; 49 percent had type A blood; 9 percent had type B blood; and 3 percent had type AB blood. It is concluded that people with type O blood do not have a greater risk of developing infection with H. pylori than those with other blood types. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Risk factors, Blood chemical analysis, blood

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