RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Virulence factors of Helicobacter pylori are associated with peptic ulcer disease and may be also associated with bleeding peptic ulcers (BPU). AIM: To determine whether H. pylori and/or the cytotoxin-associated gene (cagA) can increase the risk of bleeding in peptic ulcers. PATIENTS: Sixty-seven patients were studied. Thirty had BPU, 20 had non-bleeding peptic ulcers (NBPU), and 17 were control subjects (NPU). METHODS: The prevalence of H. pylori was assessed by the urease fast test, histological examination, serology, and 16S ribosomal RNA and cagA gene amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Histology and PCR showed greater sensitivity for diagnosis of H. pylori under bleeding circumstances when compared with other tests. Association of H. pylori was greater in the NBPU group (odds ratio [OR] 4.91, P = 0.06) than in the BPU group (OR 1.27, P = NS) when compared with the control group. When the BPU and NBPU groups were compared, H. pylori was found more often in the NBPU group (OR 0.26, P < 0.10 ). The cagA-positive gene showed a similar distribution in the three groups. The titres for anti-CagA immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies were higher in NBPU patients (83%) than in BPU or control patients. Furthermore, anti-urease immunoglobulin G (IgG) was detected more frequently among BPU and NBPU patients. CONCLUSIONS: NBPU patients had the highest prevalence of H. pylori by PCR. It seems unlikely that either H. pylori or the cagA-positive gene act as significant risk factors for bleeding in peptic ulcers. The lower prevalence of the microorganism among patients who bleed cannot be explained as an artificial finding.