DETECTION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI IN GASTRIC AND ESOPHAGEAL MUCOSA - BULGARIAN EXPERIENCE

Helicobacter pylori detection was carried out on antral biopsies from patients, presenting themselves at the endoscopy unit in Sofia, Bulgaria. Detection was performed as well in oesophageal samples from the patients positive in the stomach. The occurence of H. pylori infection in this study was similar to that observed in Western Europe. Compared to culture, the urease test read after one hour had a better sensitivity than the Gram stain. Five strains were isolated from the oesophagus (14,3%), including 2 out of 4 cases of Barrett's oesophagus. The possibility that oesophagus colonization occurs by oesophageal reflux is most likely.