Patients undergoing weight loss surgery have high rates of H pylor...( CHICAGO The prevalence of Helicobacter...),Health

CHICAGO The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (a type of bacteria associated with gastrointestinal disorders) is high among patients about to undergo weight loss surgery, and treatment to eradicate the bacterial infection before surgery may be beneficial, according to an article in the October issue of The Archives of Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

The number of obese and morbidly obese Americans is steadily increasing, according to background information in the article. It is estimated that more than 30 percent of the U.S. population has a body mass index (BMI) over 30 (obese), and five percent of the U.S. population has a BMI over 40, resulting in a increased demand for weight loss surgery, including gastric bypass surgery (surgery that results in food bypassing much of the intestinal tract). Twenty to 50 percent of people living in industrialized countries are infected with H pylori, which is believed to be involved in gastroduodenal ulcer disease (a gastrointestinal tract disease characterized by ulcers in the stomach and upper intestinal tract, or foregut), in addition to gastric cancer, according to the article. The role of H pylori after gastric bypass surgery is unknown.

Archana Ramaswamy, M.D., from Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, and colleagues examined 99 patients between September 2001 and September 2002 as part of an evaluation for weight loss surgery. The patients (16 men and 83 women; average age 40 years; average BMI, 48) underwent routine testing before their weight loss surgeries, including testing for the presence of H pylori.

Before surgery, 24 percent of the patients tested positive for the H pylori infection. Of those who tested positive for H pylori, 48 percent showed significant upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms indicative of H pylori infection after surgery, while similar symptoms were present in 19 percent of the H pylori-negative group. Those with prolonged symptoms who teste
'"/>

Contact: Cindy Sanders
404-686-8538
JAMA and Archives Journals
18-Oct-2004

Page: 1 2
Related medicine news :

1. Patients newly diagnosed with HIV are more likely to enter outpatient care with case management
2. Patients with cancer have highly increased risk for blood clots
3. Patients with previous heart attacks may not benefit from pacemaker implant
4. Patients with cancer detected on screening mammography undergo less toxic treatment
5. Patients with moderate or severe hand dermatitis responsive to drug therapy
6. Patients with abdominal trauma at risk for intra-abdominal infections following surgery
7. Patients who are intubated prior to hospital arrival fare worse find Pitt researchers
8. Patients with chronic sinus do not necessarily develop antibiotic resistance
9. Plastic surgeons honor Patients of Courage overcoming difficult obstacles, inspiring others
10. Patients with severe depression improve using guidelines developed by UT Southwestern researchers
11. Patients not sticking to cholesterol drugs -- and the higher their co-pay, the lower their use