Gastrointestinal lesions and Helicobacter pylori in patients with myeloproliferative disorders

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the endoscopic lesions, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) positivity in patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPD).

METHODS: Thirty patients with MPD and 93 controls with functional dyspepsia were enrolled in this study after informed consent obtained between March 2000 and July 2003. The study was held at the Departments of Hematology and Gastroenterology, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Adnan, Turkey. Physical examination, hemogram, peripheral blood examination, upper endoscopic examinations were performed in all patients. Helicobacter pylori positivity was evaluated by rapid urease test, and by histopathological examination of the biopsies obtained from antrum and corpus.

RESULTS: The H. pylori positivity was 46.7% in MPD and 19.4% in control group (p<0.05). The prevalence of gastritis was much higher in MPD patients than control group (p<0.05). There was no gastrointestinal bleeding in control group but 8 patients in MPD group (26.7%; p<0.05).

CONCLUSION: The higher susceptibility of H. pylori infection and high frequency of gastric lesions in patients with MPD suggests a surveillance of these patients. The eradication of H. pylori to avoid probable gastrointestinal problems is advised in MPD patients.