RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and related gastric diseases is rapidly changing in western societies. H. pylori has been associated with gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer. This association applies in particular to H. pylori strains which are Cag-A positive. H. pylori is naturally disappearing from western populations in particular Cag-A positive strains which are selectively eradicated due to their association with peptic ulcer. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of H. pylori in duodenal ulcer disease and its Cag-A status before the eradication of H. pylori was routinely applied. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Antibodies for H. pylori and Cag-A were investigated by Western blot method in serum samples from 62 patients with duodenal ulcer. The samples were collected during the period 1993-1996 and should represent the Cag-A prevalence before it was changed by active eradication. No subject had received H. pylori eradication before the study. RESULTS: Of the 62 samples 54 (87.1%) were positive for H. pylori specific antigen and of the 54 positive samples 53 (98.1%) were positive for Cag-A. CONCLUSION: H. pylori strains associated with duodenal ulcer in Iceland were predominantly (98.1%) Cag-A positive.