A hundred elderly dyspeptic patients were studied to assess the prevalence ofHelicobacter pyloriinfection and the correlation between histological and serological findings. Eighty-one per cent of the patients with gastritis and 63with gastric ulcer wereH. pyloripositive. All patients who hadH. pylorinegative gastritis and gastric ulcers were on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). There were 24 patients who had evidence ofH. pyloriinfection and were on NSAIDs.H. pyloripositive patients had more dyspeptic symptoms in comparison with those who wereH. pylorinegative. In patients who were taking NSAIDs, the presence of severe active gastritis seemed to correlate with the presence ofH. pyloribut not with the use of NSAIDs.Serology had a sensitivity of 90and a specificity of 93with a negative predictive value of 86. There was a significant correlation between IgG titre and the degree of inflammation andH. pyloriinfection. We conclude thatH. pylorigastritis is the commonest histopathological finding in elderly dyspeptic patients.H. pyloriinfection may be an important risk factor in elderly patients who take NSAIDs, increasing their risk of gastric ulcer.H. pyloriserology in elderly people has a high sensitivity and specificity comparable with those in young age groups.
展开▼
