| Abstract: | Crohn's disease can affect the upper gut withreported variable frequency, although concurrentHelicobacter pylori infection has been reported to below. We prospectively investigated the prevalence of esophageal, gastric, and duodenal lesions andHelicobacter pylori infection in 67 Crohn's disease, 41ulcerative colitis patients, and 43 controls. Symptoms,esophagogastroduodenoscopy, and multiple biopsies were performed on all patients consecutively.Endoscopic lesions were found in 63% of Crohn's diseasepatients, with a Helicobacter pylori prevalence of 28%. Granulomas were found in three patients. Twenty-two percent of the ulcerative colitis patients hadlesions, with a 29% prevalence of Helicobacter pyloriinfection. Half of the controls had pathologicalendoscopy, and Helicobacter pylori was positive in 40% of the cases. Subjective symptoms did notpredict the presence of endoscopic lesions orHelicobacter pylori infection in inflammatory boweldisease patients. Chronic gastritis and duodenitis arecommon in Crohn's disease patients, and the majorityare not associated with Helicobacter pyloriinfection. |
