Research Information System
International Journal of Medicine, Biology and the Environment, vol.29, no.2, pp.155-158, 2001 (Scopus)
Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) plays a major role in gastritis and is also considered as a carcinogen due to its genotoxic constitutive properties. Mutagenic and carcinogenic effects of genotoxic agents can be sensitively evaluated with sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis. Aim: We wanted to investigate the role of age, gender and smoking on the genotoxic effects of H. pylori and on the efficacy of the eradication therapy. Methods: Patients underwent endoscopy, biopsy and urease test for H. pylori before and after the treatment. Pre and post-treatment peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures were prepared from 17 patients with histologically and biochemically proven gastritis and H. pylori infection. From each patient 25 metaphases were analyzed for SCE. Results: Treatment eradicated H. pylori in patients (94%) and reduced significantly the SCE frequency. Pretreatment SCE frequency was found to be significantly increased in the elderly patients. Post-treatment SCE frequencies were higher in the group with high SCE frequencies to begin with. Women smokers had higher post-treatment SCE frequencies. Pre and post-treatment SCE frequencies were higher in the elderly males. Conclusion: eradication therapy decreased genotoxicity of H. pylori but age in males and smoking in females were found to be risk factors decreasing the efficacy of the treatment.