Background: The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric ulcer in addition to study its relationship with the ingestion of non steroid antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
Methods: One hundred sixty-one patients (mean age 54 years, 70% males) in whom gastric ulcer was endoscopically demonstrated were studied. Biopsies of the antrum and gastric body (hematoxillin-eosin, Gram staining and culture) were obtained during endoscopy.
Results: H. pylori was detected in 83% (CI = 78-89%) of the cases. In the patients not taking NSAIDS positivity was 87% (CI = 81-93%) while in those with NSAIDS this was only 63% (CI = 43-79%) (p = 0.008). The percentage of patients without H. pylori infection or NSAIDS intake represented 11% (CI = 6-16%). On multivariant analysis the only variable correlated with H. pylori infection was NSAIDS intake (OR = 0.25; CI = 0.09-0.66; chi 2 model = 7.27; p = 0.007) while the remaining variables (sex, age, smoking, alcohol and ulcer site) did not show a significant correlation. The percentage of chronic gastritis was higher (p < 0.001) in H. pylori positive patients in comparison with those who were uninfected (97% versus 67% in the antrum and 78% versus 41% in the gastric body).
Conclusions: The prevalence of infection by Helicobacter pylori in patients with gastric ulcer is greater in those without non steroid antiinflammatory drug (NSAIDS) intake in comparison with those who have this history. The percentage of patients without H. pylori infection or NSAIDS ingestion was very low (11%), and thus it may be deduced that these elements represent pathogenic factors of major importance in gastric ulcer disease since the appearance of this entity in the absence of both is infrequent.