Abstract
Helicobacter pylori infection, peptic ulcer and gastric cancer are common problems in Egypt. We investigated the prevalence of cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infections among Egyptian adults in relation to presentation (e.g. dyspepsia vs asymptomatic controls) in Minofyia, Egypt. Patients included men or women seeking care for at least 3 months of upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Helicobacter pylori status was determined by rapid urease test and gastric histopathology in patients and by anti-Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies in controls. CagA status was determined using an anti-cag A ELISA. 99 Helicobacter pylori infected patients were entered including 90 dyspeptic patients (30 each with gastric cancer, peptic ulcer, and non-ulcer dyspepsia) and 9 non-dyspeptic healthy controls. Age ranged from 27 to 78 y (mean 49.5 y); 50% were men. Anti-cagA antibodies were present in 62.2% of dyspeptic patients compared with 11% of asymptomatic controls (p=0.004). Anti-cagA antibodies were more prevalent among dyspeptic patients with gastric cancer or peptic ulcer (73.3%) compared to those with non-ulcer dyspepsia (40%) (p=0.004). The prevalence of cagA in Egypt was related to the clinical presentation of Helicobacter pylori infection being lowest in asymptomatic controls (11.1%) and increasingly prevalent in non-ulcer dyspepsia (40%), peptic ulcer (66.7%), and gastric cancer (89%).