DYSPEPSIA AND HELICOBACTER PYLORI INFECTION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

We obtained a history of dyspepsia, and found Helicobacter pylori specific antibodies in all eight children on long term hemodialysis. Diffuse chronic gastritis was found in seven patients who could be investigated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, the rapid urease test, and histopathology. Gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori was found in three of the seven patients. Both the seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori and the frequency of Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis were found to be similar to those in sixteen children without renal failure. A specific effects of Helicobacter pylori infection could not be demonstrated in the hemodialysis patients with peptic ulcer.