Occurrence of Helicobacter Pylori in Specimens of Chronic Gastritis and Gastric Adenocarcinoma Patients: A Retrospective Study at University Teaching Hospital, Kigali, Rwanda.

INTRODUCTION

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is the major cause of gastroduodenal diseases in populations of different ages. We conducted aretrospective studyusing archived tissue samples to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection among patients diagnosed with gastritis and gastric adenocarcinoma by histopathology cases in one hospital in Rwanda.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Cases of chronic gastritis and gastric adenocarcinoma histologically diagnosed in a tertiary hospital in Rwanda over the period of 2016-2018 were studied for the presence of H. pylori using immunohistochemistry. Diagnosis of positive cases considered immunoreactivity as well as bacterial morphology, including spiral, rod-shaped, angulated and coccoid forms.

RESULTS

Three hundred and seven cases were included in this study; chronic gastritis and gastric adenocarcinoma representing 39% and 61%, respectively. The overall frequency of H. pylori infection was 77.5% (80% among chronic gastritis cases versus 76% among gastric adenocarcinoma cases). Prevalence of H. pylori infection in chronic gastritis and adenocarcinoma did not significantly associate with age and sex.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of H. pylori was high among chronic gastritis and gastric adenocarcinoma cases in Rwanda. Pathologists should investigate the presence of H. pylori in gastric biopsies. Our data shows immunohistochemistry method is feasible and adequate to facilitate detection of H. pylori, which may guide timely treatment.