Reinfection rate and endoscopic changes after successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori

AIM:To determine the long-term outcomes regarding reinfection with Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)and endoscopic changes after successful H.pylori eradication. METHODS:From June 1994 to January 2007,186 patients(M:F=98:88;mean age 50.0±11.4 years), in whom H.pylori had been successfully eradicated, were enrolled.The mean duration of follow up was 41.2±24.0 mo. RESULTS:H.pylori reinfection occurred in 58 patients (31.2%).The average annual reinfection rate was 9.1% per patient year.No recurrence of peptic ulcer was detected at the follow up endoscopy.There were no significant differences between the H.pylori eradication regimens for the reinfection rate and no significant differences in endoscopic findings between the H.pylorirecurred group and the H.pylori-cured group.CONCLUSION:The reinfection rate in Korea is 9.1% which represents a decreasing trend.There was no relationship between H.pylori infection status and changes in endoscopic findings.There was also no recurrence or aggravation of ulcers.

Ischemic colitis during interferon-ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C:A case report

Ischemic colitis is a rare complication of interferon administration.Only 9 cases in 6 reports have been described to-date.This report describes a case of ischemic colitis during pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C,and includes a review of the relevant literature.A 48-year-old woman was treated with pegylated interferon-2a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C,genotype Ib.After 19 wk of treatment,the patient complained of severe afebrile abdominal pain with hematochezia.Vital signs were stable and serum white blood cell count was within the normal range.Abdominal computed tomography showed diffuse colonic wall thickening from the splenic flexure to the proximal sigmoid colon,which is the most vulnerable area for the development of ischemic colitis.Colonoscopy revealed an acute mucosal hyperemic change,with edema and ulcerations extending from the proximal descending colon to the sigmoid colon.Colonic mucosal biopsy revealed acute exudative colitis.Polymerase chain reaction and culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative and the cultures for cytomegalovirus,Salmonella and Shigella species were negative.After discontinuation of interferon and ribavirin therapy,abdominal pain and hematochezia subsided and,following colonoscopy showed improvement of the mucosal ulcerations.Ischemic colitis cases during interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C reported so far have all involved the descending colon.Ischemic colitis is a rarely encountered complication of interferon administration in patients with chronic hepatitis C and should be considered when a patient complains of abdominal pain and hematochezia.

Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori in female Vietnamese immigrants to Korea

AIM:To investigate the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) and its relationship to nutritional factors in female Vietnamese immigrants to Korea.METHODS:A total of 390 female immigrants from Vietnam and 206 Korean male spouses participated in the study.Blood samples from 321 female immigrants and 201 Korean male spouses were analyzed for H.pylori antibodies.Data on age,sex,alcohol consumption,smoking status,dietary nutritional factors and gastrointestinal symptoms were collected using questionnaires.The daily intakes of the following nutrients were estimated:energy,protein,niacin,lipid,fiber,calcium,iron,sodium,potassium,zinc,folate,cholesterol,and vitamins A,B1,B2,B6,C and E.RESULTS:The prevalence of H.pylori positivity was lower in the immigrants than in age-matched Koreanfemales(55.7% vs 71.4%,respectively;P < 0.0001) and the domestic population of Vietnam.The prevalence of H.pylori positivity among married couples was 31.7% for both spouses.There were no statistically significant differences in the incidence of smoking,amount of alcohol consumed,or nutritional factors between the H.pylori-positive and negative groups.CONCLUSION:The prevalence of H.pylori positivity was lower among female Vietnamese immigrants than among Korean females.Nutritional factors did not differ between the H.pylori-positive and negative groups.