AEGiS-14IAC: Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in HIV patients in Spain.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in HIV patients in Spain.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. B10231)

Gutierrez CD, Quijada SG, Saez CG, Ezquerro AM, Ibanez AF, Gonzalez JF
Internal medicine, Burgos, Spain

BACKGROUND: Conflicting results have been reported by european authors in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection in HIV-infected patients in Spain, which is the major etiologic agent of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in HIV-negative individuals.

METHODS: Prospective study in 146 patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. They were separately investigated by C13 breath and serological testing for anti-HP IgA and IgG antibodies assessed by ELISA. All of them filled the Leeds dyspepsia questionnaire for measuring the presence and severity of dyspepsia.

RESULTS: 146 patients (106 male, 40 female) were studied; 112 had antiretroviral therapy. A total of 95 patients (62.5%) had upper gastrointestinal simptoms. Helicobacter pylori was identified in at least 2 of the 3 tests in 89 patients (60,9%). In 47 patients (32%) HP was detected in the three investigated testing and in 35 (23%) HP were negative in all the tests.

CONCLUSIONS: Helicobacter pylori infection was as common in HIV-positive patients than in the general spanish population. Previous reports have understimated the prevalence of H. pylori infection in HIV patients.

Keywords: AEGIS, Helicobacter Infections, Helicobacter pylori, Prevalence, Dyspepsia, HIV Infections, HIV Seropositivity, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Prospective Studies, Spain, Female, Human, Male, epidemiology

020707
B10231