Association of helicobacter pylori infection with nutritional status in hemodialysis patients.

The presence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection may adversely influence outcome in renal transplant candidates because of its strong association with gastrointestinal disorders. We examined the association between HP infection and nutritional parameters in symptom-free hemodialysis patients and assessed prospectively the nutritional changes in patients who received therapy for the disease. The 163 study patients, including 114 men and 69 women of mean age 41.5 +/- 12.9 years on dialysis for 67.2 +/- 47.6 months, were selected from among the group who underwent routine endoscopic evaluation according to our renal transplant protocol. Patients with active peptic ulcer, acute gastritis, chronic inflammatory disease, malignancy, or diabetes mellitus were excluded. Endoscopy results revealed normal findings in 60 (group 1), gastritis in 86 (group 2), or gastritis with HP in 17 patients (group 3). Group 3 patients received a 2-week course of triple therapy (omeprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin). The patient groups were compared for nutritional metrics (albumin, phosphorus, interdialytic weight gain [IDWG], body mass index [BMI]), inflammatory indices (CRP, fibrinogen), and iPTH levels. Group 3 patients were observed to be malnourished when compared with groups 1 and 2, namely abnormal values of albumin (P <.0001), phosphorus (P <.009), IDWG (P <.03), and BMI (P <.02). Repeat endoscopy revealed a 94% rate of eradication of HP with increased levels of albumin and phosphorus in group 3. Although symptom-free hemodialysis patients with HP-associated gastritis displayed a state of malnutrition; its eradication improved the nutritional status. Therefore, the presence of HP infection should be sought and its eradication mandatory for this patient population.