Helicobacter pylori and precancerous conditions of the stomach: the frequency of infection in a cross-sectional study of 79 consecutive patients with chronic antral gastritis in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: The study aimed at determining the different types of precancerous conditions of the stomach and searches the frequency of Helicobacter pylori in these lesions in patients with chronic antral gastritis in Yaounde, Cameroon. METHODS: Five gastric biopsies were performed during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for pathology and fixed in formol 10% before being coated in paraffin. Both the modified Giemsa and Periodic acid of Shift - Alkaline blue stains were used for the histological diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection. Hematoxylyn and eosin stain was used to determine the activity of gastritis, atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia in accordance to the Sydney's classification of gastritis. Data were analysed using both the Epi info 6.04 and Excel 2007 softwares. Means and their standard deviations, medians and their interquartiles (IQR) were calculated. Proportions were established for qualitative variables and chi square analysis done in this study with a p value set at 0.05. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients with chronic antral gastritis were enrolled, of which 43 (54.4%) were male, median age: 43 years (range from 21 to 70 years). The rate of atrophic gastritis was 74.7% (59/79). The activity of atrophic gastritis was mild in 47.5% (28/59) of cases, moderate in 47.5% (28/59) and severe in 5% (5/59). Intestinal metaplasia and follicular gastritis were present in 6.3% (5/79), and 10.1% (8/79), respectively. Concerning Helicobacter pylori infection, 71.2% (42/59) of patients with atrophic gastritis tested positive against 28.8% (17/59) who tested negative (p=0.00003). Helicobacter pylori infection was related to the severity of gastric atrophy (p=0.0001). Among patients with intestinal metaplasia and follicular gastritis, the proportion of those who tested positive for Helicobacter pylori infection was 80% (4/5), and 75% (6/8), respectively. There were no significant differences in the occurrence of atrophic gastritis according to age groups (p=0.908). CONCLUSION: This study concludes that atrophic gastritis, which is most often caused by Helicobacter pylori, is the most frequent precancerous condition of stomach in Cameroon. Routine gastric sampling for pathologic analysis is mandatory for effective diagnosis and surveillance of Helicobacter pylori infection and precancerous conditions of the stomach.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C: related hepatocellular carcinoma in Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global public health problem. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection accounts for close to 24% of HCC in developing countries especially when associated with cirrhosis. There exists no vaccine against HCV to prevent the occurrence of HCV-related HCC. A sound knowledge of the epidemiology and prevention of the initial infection is vital. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiologic profile of HCV-related HCC in Cameroon to improve its' management. METHODS: It was a prospective study of histologically proven HCV-related HCC seen in two University Centers in Yaounde, Cameroon from March 2012 to January 2013. Demographic data (age, gender), alcohol abuse (>80g/day), presence of cirrhosis, tobacco abuse and parenteral exposition were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients with histologically proven HCV-related HCC were included (18 men (69.2%) and 8 women (30.8%); mean age +/- SD, 61.46+/-10.18 years). A total of 22 (84.6%) patients had a parenteral exposition, 02 (7.7%) patients were alcoholics and 06 (23.1%) patients were smokers. The proportion of patients with cirrhosis was 69.2% against 30.8% cirrhosis-free. Patients with cirrhosis were relatively younger than those cirrhosis-free (mean age +/- SD, 59.05+/-10.05 years vs 66.87+/- 8.72 years, p=0.06). HCV-related HCC was more prevalent in 60 years and above patients (53.8%, 95%CI: 33.4-73.4). The relative risk of HCC among alcoholics patients was high (RR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.13-1.99, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In Cameroon, HCV-related HCC is more prevalent among age older than 60 years, a finding which is relatively less to that found in western countries, male gender is twice more at risk than female gender and cirrhosis frequency is less compared to that observed elsewhere. HCV and alcohol play a synergistic role in the occurrence of HCC in our environment.

Indications, résultats et rendement de la coloscopie dans un environnement économique défavorable: le cas du Cameroun

OBJECTIF : le rendement diagnostique de la coloscopie dépend de plusieurs facteurs, notamment les indications. La pertinence de ces indications est influencée par l'environnement économique et les structures locales. Le but de notre étude était d'analyser les indications et les résultats des coloscopies, et d'évaluer leur rendement diagnostique afin de juger de la pertinence de ces indications. MATÉRIELS ET MÉTHODES : un recueil rétrospectif de données de coloscopies réalisées de janvier 2001 à juin 2011 dans trois hôpitaux universitaires de Yaoundé a été effectué. Les variables enregistrés étaient l'âge, le sexe, les indications et les résultats. RÉSULTATS : un total de 908 protocoles de coloscopie ont satisfait à nos critères de sélection (dont 622 hommes (68,5%)). L'âge médian était de 48 ans (IQR 36-59 ans). Les indications principales étaient les rectorragies 281 patients (30,9%), les douleurs abdominales 267 patients (29,4%) et les diarrhées chroniques 107 patients (11,8%). L'examen était normal 451 fois (49,7%). Les lésions retrouvées étaient les polypes colorectaux 110 cas (12,1% ; IC 95% : 10,1-14,5), les hémorroïdes 104 cas (11, 5% ; IC 95% : 9,5-13,7), la diverticulose 71 cas (7,8% ; IC 95% : 6,2-9,8) le cancer colorectal 64 cas (7,0% ; IC 95% : 5,5-9,0) et les colites 64 cas (7,0% ; IC 95% : 5,5-9,0). Le rendement diagnostique de la coloscopie pour le cancer colorectal selon les indications était élevé en cas d'image radiologique suspecte (27,7%), de masse abdominale (25%) et d'anémie ferriprive (22,2%). les douleurs abdominales et/ou TFI non accompagnées de perte de sang macroscopique ou occulte, la constipation et le dépistage du cancer colorectal avaient un rendement faible. CONCLUSION : le rendement diagnostique de la coloscopie dans la détection des principales lésions coliques n'est pas différent dans un environnement économique défavorable malgré les indications peu pertinentes. Les symptômes digestifs avec une valeur prédictive positive élevée pour le diagnostic de cancer colorectal sont retrouvés. Les polypes et les hémorroïdes constituent les principales lésions colorectales au Cameroun. Le cancer colorectal a une prévalence élevée et inattendue méritant notre attention