Is the severity of dyspeptic symptoms after 20 weeks' gestation related to helicobacter pylori infection?

Amaç

We set out this study to test the hypothesis whether there is an association between Helicobacter pylori and the severity of dyspeptic symptoms after 20 weeks' gestation in pregnant women.

Yöntem

Pregnant women (n=l03) with gestational ages between 20-41 weeks and healthy non-pregnant women (control group, n=79) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Anti-H.pylori IgG serum antibody was tested to establish infection. The dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated by the Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score in the pregnant group and were classified as asymptomatic (Score 0), mild symptomatic (Score 1-5) and severe symptomatic (Score >5). The severity of dyspeptic symptoms was compared in pregnant women with H.pylori infection, and pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared for II.pylori seroposilivity and prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms. The results were analyzed using Student's-T, Mann-Whitney-U and Chi-Square testing.

Bulgular

The prevalence of H.pylori infection was not different among pregnant and non-pregnant women (73,H% and 67,1%, respectively). The median dyspeptic score was 5 and 4, respectively for anti-H.pylori IgG positive and negative pregnant women. Dyspeptic scores of the H.pylori infected pregnant women were not different from the non-infected pregnant women. The seropositivity of H.pylori did not differ among asymptomatic, mild and severe symptomatic pregnant women (69,2%; 73,1%); 76,3%, respectively). The non-pregnant women were more often asymptomatic, compared to pregnant women (54% versus 12,6%, respectively, p=0,001).

Sonuç

Our findings do not support any association between H.pylori infection and the severity of dyspeptic symptoms in late pregnancy. İt seems unreasonable to screen pregnant women in late pregnancy for H.pylori infection, even if they suffer from severe dyspeptic symptoms.