THE SEROPREVALENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI IN GASTRIC ADENOCARCINOMA

Abstract

Gastric cancer is one of the major causes of death due to malignancy. Recently, studies have concentrated on identifying risk factors for gastric cancer and eliminating them. H.pylori carriage is strongly associated with the risk of development of atrophic gastritis which is a precursor lesion to gastric cancer. This study aims to investigate the seroprevalence of H.pylori in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. This prospective clinical investigation conducted between February 1997 and January 1998 was performed on three groups: 20 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, 20 patients with benign gastric disease (gastritis or peptic ulcer) and 20 healthy adults with no gastrointestinal symptoms. H.pylori immunglobulin G levels were measured quantitatively in sera obtained from individuals in three groups and results among groups were compared statistically.

The seroprevalence of H.pylori was 100%, 100% and 90% in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, with benign gastric disease and healthy adults respectively. The mean ( SD levels of H.pylori were 1.9325 ( 0.6113 in gastric cancer group, 1.45245 ( 1.009 in benign gastric disease group and 1 02045 ( 0.8416 in healthy adults. Values obtained in patients with gastric cancer were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals (p<0.01).

In conclusion, the H.pylori IgG seroprevalence is very high in all groups. Seropositivity or high titers of H .pylori cannot identify peptic ulcer or gastric cancer. In patients with upper gastrointestinal system symptoms and high H.pylori titers, H.pylori infection has to be eradicated and these patients should be investigated for gastric cancer.