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| IJCEM Copyright © 2008-All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711 |
Int J Clin Exp Med 2011;4(1):26-31
Original Article
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and occurrence of gastroduodenal lesions in
patients with liver cirrhosis
Gabriele I. Kirchner, Winfried Beil, Joerg S. Bleck, Micheal P. Manns, Siegfried Wagner
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, 30625, Hannover,
Germany; Present address: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg,
Germany; Institute of Pharmacology, Medical School of Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Received July 18, 2010; accepted December 19, 2010; Epub December 25, 2010; published January 1, 2011
Abstract: Background/Aims: The role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of ulcer disease in cirrhotic patients is poorly
defined. Therefore, we sought to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the occurrence of gastroduodenal
lesions in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods and Patients: Seroprevalence of H. pylori was tested in 110 patients
with liver cirrhosis and 44 asymptomatic patients with chronic hepatitis without cirrhosis using an anti-H. pylori-
IgG-ELISA. Cirrhotic patients underwent upper intestinal endoscopy for macroscopic and histological evaluation of
gastric mucosa, and for the detection of mucosal colonisation of H. pylori using Giemsa staining and urease test.
Results: There was no significant difference between the H. pylori seroprevalence in patients with liver cirrhosis
(76/110; 69%) and patients with chronic viral hepatitis (27/44, 63%, p=0.465). Gastric mucosal colonization with H.
pylori in cirrhotic patients was significantly lower than the serologically determined H. pylori prevalence (45% vs. 69%,
p=0.001). Etiology of liver cirrhosis did not influence the prevalence of H. pylori infection. 8 of 110 cirrhotic patients
had gastric ulcers and 10 had duodenal ulcers. 61% of cirrhotic patients with peptic ulcers were asymptomatic. H.
pylori was histologically identified in 61% of gastroduodenal ulcers, and 47% of gastroduodenal erosions. Conclusions:
Patients with liver cirrhosis have a high prevalence of gastroduodenal ulcers. The lack of a firm association
between H. pylori prevalence and ulcer frequency in cirrhotic patients argues against a pivotal role of H. pylori in the
etiology of ulcers in cirrhotic patients. (IJCEM1007004).
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, gastroduodenal ulcers
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Gabriele Kirchner, MD
Department of Internal Medicine I,
University Hospital of Regensburg
Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany,
Tel: +49-941-944-7003, Fax: +49-941-944-7109
E-mail: Gabriele.Kirchner@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Original Article
Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and occurrence of gastroduodenal lesions in
patients with liver cirrhosis
Gabriele I. Kirchner, Winfried Beil, Joerg S. Bleck, Micheal P. Manns, Siegfried Wagner
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School of Hannover, 30625, Hannover,
Germany; Present address: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital of Regensburg, 93042 Regensburg,
Germany; Institute of Pharmacology, Medical School of Hannover, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
Received July 18, 2010; accepted December 19, 2010; Epub December 25, 2010; published January 1, 2011
Abstract: Background/Aims: The role of H. pylori in the pathogenesis of ulcer disease in cirrhotic patients is poorly
defined. Therefore, we sought to investigate the prevalence of H. pylori infection and the occurrence of gastroduodenal
lesions in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods and Patients: Seroprevalence of H. pylori was tested in 110 patients
with liver cirrhosis and 44 asymptomatic patients with chronic hepatitis without cirrhosis using an anti-H. pylori-
IgG-ELISA. Cirrhotic patients underwent upper intestinal endoscopy for macroscopic and histological evaluation of
gastric mucosa, and for the detection of mucosal colonisation of H. pylori using Giemsa staining and urease test.
Results: There was no significant difference between the H. pylori seroprevalence in patients with liver cirrhosis
(76/110; 69%) and patients with chronic viral hepatitis (27/44, 63%, p=0.465). Gastric mucosal colonization with H.
pylori in cirrhotic patients was significantly lower than the serologically determined H. pylori prevalence (45% vs. 69%,
p=0.001). Etiology of liver cirrhosis did not influence the prevalence of H. pylori infection. 8 of 110 cirrhotic patients
had gastric ulcers and 10 had duodenal ulcers. 61% of cirrhotic patients with peptic ulcers were asymptomatic. H.
pylori was histologically identified in 61% of gastroduodenal ulcers, and 47% of gastroduodenal erosions. Conclusions:
Patients with liver cirrhosis have a high prevalence of gastroduodenal ulcers. The lack of a firm association
between H. pylori prevalence and ulcer frequency in cirrhotic patients argues against a pivotal role of H. pylori in the
etiology of ulcers in cirrhotic patients. (IJCEM1007004).
Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, gastroduodenal ulcers
Full Text PDF
Address all correspondence to:
Gabriele Kirchner, MD
Department of Internal Medicine I,
University Hospital of Regensburg
Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, D-93042 Regensburg, Germany,
Tel: +49-941-944-7003, Fax: +49-941-944-7109
E-mail: Gabriele.Kirchner@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
