Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease in cirrhosis.

An increased frequency of peptic ulcer disease is noted in patients with cirrhosis, but the role of H. pylori in this disorder remains to be determined. The diagnosis of cirrhosis was confirmed by a combination of clinical, biochemical, radiological, and histological methods. The severity of cirrhosis was assessed by Pugh's modification of Child's criteria. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed consecutively to evaluate the presence of varices and gastroduodenal mucosa. H. pylori status was assessed by histology, urease test, and serology. In all, 130 patients with cirrhosis were recruited into the study; there were 86 males and 44 females with a mean (SD) age of 54.4 (12.7) years. The H. pylori prevalence was 76.2%. There was no difference in age between the H. pylori-positive and -negative cirrhotics (P = 0.29). The H. pylori prevalence revealed no difference among cirrhotics with Child A (77.8%), Child B (72.9%), and Child C (78.6%) (P = 0.8), and neither was there a difference in H. pylori prevalence in cirrhotics with and without congestive gastropathy (77% vs 73.7%, P = 0.84). The prevalence of H. pylori in cirrhotics with and without varices did not show a statistical difference (75% vs 81.8%, P = 0.68). There also was no difference in the H. pylori prevalence between cirrhotic patients with and without peptic ulcers (84.4% vs 69.7%, P = 0.09). In conclusion, the prevalence of H. pylori or peptic ulcer is independent of the severity of cirrhotic liver disease. The association between H. pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease is weak in cirrhosis.