Meanders of an Atypical Research Work on Helicobacter pylori in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Influence of HIV and other Factors and Study of some Interesting Cases

During the 3rd Euro case reports in Valencia, Spain, a strange medical case taking place in the DRC has been presented. Indeed, while the Congolese population is, until now, convinced of the existence of massive criminal poisonings, throughout the national area, originating from the East region of the country, we incredibly observed and demonstrated that actually, the phenomenon is a silent, surprising and unexpected Helicobacter pylori epidemic with numerous extra-digestive pathologies. The present subject will deal with picturesque meanders by which our research work passed, lengthening it to more than twenty years before getting appropriate results. The presentation will start by a brief summary of the DRC Helicobacter pylori phenomenon described in Valencia and hypothesis raised for better knowledge of Helicobacter pylori infection, at the international level. In a second time, it will focus on the influence and consequences of some followed factors in our study: HIV infection, political situation in DRC, lack of equipment and financial means, population ignorance, traditional practitioners’ cupidity, deficiency of south-North collaboration, and so on. Afterwards, two interesting incredible extra-digestive DRC Helicobacter pylori cases observed in our study will be discussed. Finally a brief conclusion will present some useful propositions drawn from the experience of this DRC Helicobacter pylori research work.