Significance of Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with bleeding from upper part of the gastrointestinal tract

BACKGROUND/AIM: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use are considered to be the most important risk factors having influence on the onset of bleeding gastroduodenal lesions. Whether there is an interaction between H. pylori infection and the use of NSAIDs in the development of peptic ulcer disease is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of NSAIDs use and H. pylori infection in patients presented with bleeding gastroduodenal lesions. METHODS: During the period from January 2003 December 2003 we prospectively obtained data of all the patients (n=106) presented with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. All the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, with the endoscopy performed within 12 hours after admission. Histologic analysis was used for the detection of H. pylori infection. The NSAIDs and aspirin use data were obtained by anamnesis. RESULTS: The results of our study revealed that the most common sources of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were duodenal (57 patients, 53.77%) and ventricular (36 patients, 33.96%) ulcers. The majority of the examined cases were associated with both H. pylori infection and NSAIDs use. A statistically significant difference among the studied groups of patients was proven. CONCLUSION: The majority of bleeding gastroduodenal lesions were associated with the coexistance of H. pylori infection and NSAIDs use, while their independent influences were statistically less important. Eradication of H. pylori infection in patients using NSAIDs might prevent upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and reduce peptic ulcer bleeding risk.