Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in uremic, transplant recipients

Introduction: As we reported earlier, on upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination after transplantation, only one third of the expected value of H. pylori positivity was found.

Aim of the study was to detect the presence of H. pylori seropositivity in uremic recipients, just before transplantation.

Materials and methods: Between 1994 and the end of 2003 1599 kidney transplantations were performed at our Clinic. In that prospective study blood samples of 479 kidney recipients were measured with serologic test (IgG, ELISA). The social-economic environment of the patients was investigated with a questionnaire.

Results: 57,4% of patients were seropositive, 42,6% were seronegative. We did not find any significant difference between positive and negative patients according to gender, residence in childhood and at present, qualification, source of water and drainage. There is no difference according to No. of family members, or smoking, or whether there is a garden or pets. Alcohol consumers have 65%, non-consumers 51% prevalence, this difference is not significant. The average age of the seropositive patients was 49 y and the seronegative patients 42 y. Patients younger than 45 y showed 44%, and those over 45 y 66% positivity. This difference was the only significant one.

Conclusions: The number of blood samples we analyzed from dialyzed patients is one of the largest in the literature. Prevalence of H. pylori is the same, as in the general population in Hungary. Whereas, we did not observe any expected relationship with socio-economical status. The only significant difference appeared according to the age. Further investigations are required to study the extremely high rate of spontaneous (?) eradication after transplantation.