Helicobacter pylori and nonspecific intestinal inflammation

In 50 subjects with non-specific inflammations of the gut the total prevalence of Helicobacter pylori positive antibodies was 28%, while in the control group of blood donors its was 54% Patients with ulcerative colitis had lower antibodies--18%, in Crohn's disease the serum positivity was 33%. The lowest value of antibodies was found in patients taking Sulfasalazine--11%. The serum positivity was substantially higher in inactive ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease--35% than in patients with signs of high activity--13%. In 28 patients with non-specific inflammations of the gut endoscopy was performed, in 60% with a pathological outcome. Histologically confirmed gastritis was in the majority Helicobacter pylori negative. It may be stated that in patients with non-specific inflammations of the gut there is a lower incidence of Helicobacter pylori than in the general population, in particular those subjects who were or are treated with Sulfasalazine. The explanation of this fact is however only speculative.