Higher prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in dyspeptic patients who do not have gastric phase III of the migrating motor complex.

BACKGROUND

So far, only a few and conflicting data are available about the possible correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and disorders of gastrointestinal motility.

METHODS

In the present study we have evaluated the interdigestive manometric recordings from the stomach and duodenum of 100 consecutive dyspeptic patients, to ascertain whether the absence of phase III of the migrating motor complex (MMC) might be associated with a different prevalence of H. pylori infection. All the patients who entered a protocol study for functional dyspepsia had endoscopic examinations of the upper gastrointestinal tract with at least two biopsy specimens from both the gastric antrum and corpus (for histologic evaluation, with search for Helicobacter-like organisms). Then, 240-min interdigestive manometric recordings, with evaluation of activity fronts (phase III of the MMC), starting from the stomach and the duodenum, were made.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The data obtained suggest that in patients without evidence of gastric phase III of MMC the prevalence of H. pylori colonization is significantly (P = 0.032) higher.