Helicobacter pylori infection in young patients with gastric carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori infection has been linked with chronic atrophic gastritis and gastric cancer. This case-control study was performed to investigate a possible relationship between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer in young age groups.

METHODS

Gastrectomy and/or biopsy samples were collected from 50 consecutive patients 45 years old or younger treated between 1980 and 1994 for noncardiac gastric cancer. The control group consisted of age- and sex-matched dyspeptic patients. The presence of H. pylori infection was assessed by modified Giemsa staining and immunostaining, using antibody against H. pylori.

RESULTS

H. pylori was found in 36 (72%; 95% confidence interval 60-84%) cancer patients and in 22 (43%; 30-58%) control patients (p = 0.0023, chi-square test). The odds ratio was 3.27 (1.42-7.52). Nonatrophic (superficial) gastritis was present in 30 (60%) cancer patients and in 19 (38%) (p = 0.028, chi-square test) control cases.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the present study support the hypothesis that H. pylori is a risk factor for gastric cancer also in young age groups and in patients with a diffuse type of gastric cancer.