Low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric cancer.

UNLABELLED

The Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is a well-known carcinogenic factor. There are only limited data on the presence of Hp infection in gastric cancer in Romania.

AIM

Cross-sectional study of the prevalence of Hp infection in gastric cancer.

MATERIAL-METHODS: All cases of gastric cancer confirmed by gastroscopy in an endoscopy unit with national referrals were analysed. The Hp status was checked. The Hp + cases were studied compared with the Hp - cases.

RESULTS

From 6768 gastroscopies 84 cases with gastric cancer were detected. Among these in 40 the Hp status was determined. 37 cases were carcinoma, 1 lymphoma, 2 cases without microscopical aspect of malignancy. In 8 cases (20%) Hp was found +. The majority of the patients with gastric cancer did not use PPIs. There were no demographic life style differences between the patients with gastric cancer who were Hp + and Hp -.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of the Hp infection in gastric cancer is lower than that reported in the literature. The investigation of Hp in gastric cancer should be done routinely. These data represent the starting point for a prospective study.