Predictors of Helicobacter pylori infectivity, Using Stool Antigen Test in Al- Qurna

Aim: To identify predictors of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infectivity, Using stool antigen test with its correlations to epigastric abdominal pain and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients &methods: Patients from Al Qurna presented to private clinic with epigastric abdominal pain each of them has been screened for H pylori via stool antigen test, after evaluations of other causes of abdominal pain. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version-15 Results: a total of 254 patients 142 (55.9%) were males and 112 (44.1%) were females were studied. H pylori stool antigen was positive in 69 (27.2 %) and negative in 185 (72.8%) of the studied patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms that were observed included weight loss, loss of appetite (3.6%), heart burn (60.6%), vomiting (28.3%), diarrhea (7.1%), constipation (15.4%) and abdomen distension (24%). In 59.3% of the H. pylori antigen positive cases, the duration of epigastric pain was of >two weeks. Conclusions: logistic regression analysis indicated that epigastric abdominal pain of > two weeks and loss of appetite were two significant predictors of H. Pylori infection. Key word: H pylori, predictors of infectivity, Al Qurna Thi-Qar Medical Journal (TQMJ): Vol (11) No (1)2016 utjmed@utq.edu.iq Introduction Isolation of H. pylori in 1983 had revolutionized the history of Gastrointestinal (GIT) medicine. (1) H. pylori plays a vital role in the aetiology of gastritis especially active antral gastritis, and accounts for 90%of duodenal ulcers and 70% gastric ulcers. (2) It also plays a role in the development of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), lymphoma and gastric adenocarcinoma (3) . Thus the prevalence of this microorganism is a determinant of the risk of peptic ulcer and related lesions. In a study reported a prevalence rate of 55.8% among university students. (4) The bacteria can be cultivated from stool, vomitus and saliva in normal individual (5) . In niebouring countries as Saudi Arabia the prevalence of H. pylori infection was detected in 61% in asymptomatic subject (6) and a comparable result was found in Turkey