The frequency of Helicobacter Pylori infection in Beta Thalassemia major Patients with recurrent abdominal pain

Objective: To determine the frequency of Helicobacter Pylori (HP) seroprevalence and
infection in ß Thalassemia major(TM) patients and to compare between ß TM patients and
controls both presenting with recurrent abdominal pain (RAP).
Methodology: The study group included 62 TM and 41 healthy controls with RAP. Serum samples
were examined for anti-HP antibody using an HPIgG ELISA. Urea-breath test was applied to
patients with positive HPIgG by using 14C. In 36 of TM patients (58.1%) and 20 of healthy children
(48.8%) HPIgG (+) was stated.
Results: In terms of HPIgG frequency, no difference was found between TM and control groups
(p=0.354). The Urea-breath test given to the TM patients and healthy children with HPIgG (+),
test in 30 TM patient (48.4%) and 16 healthy children (39%) the Urea-breath test was found to be
positive (p=0.34). With Urea-breath test of TM patients, statistically a significant
relationships were found between ALT level, epigastric pain, periumbilical pain, splenectomy and
age (respectively p=0.02, p=0.03, p=0.00, p=0.01).
Conclusion: Helicobacter Pylori in our developing country may be one of the causes of RAP in TM
patients as well as healthy children.