[Usefulness of the 14C-urea marked test in the detection of Helicobacter pylori in patients with dyspepsia].

This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of the urea test (UT) in the detection of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in dyspeptic patients. The UT was done in 105 patients with dyspepsia who underwent endoscopy and biopsy. Hematoxylin-eosin and Warthin Starry tissue stains were performed for HP detection, and the resulting microscopic findings were considered as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the UT were of 95%, 63%, 85% and 83% when compared to the hematoxylin-eosin stain-related findings, and 99%, 79%, 93% and 96% when compared to those related to the Warthin Starry stain. We conclude that the UT is a simple, non-invasive and useful diagnostic alternative to detect HP in patients with dyspepsia.