Aim:
Helicobacter pylori
(
H. pylori) infection is responsible for various pathologies in the stomach. It can be suggested that
H. pylori may alter the effect of somatostatin on the gastrointestinal system, particularly having an effect on the D-cells in the antrum-located infections. Therefore, we planned to investigate the gallbladder functions ultrasonographically in
H. pylori-positive and -negative patients.
Methods:
The study included 20
H. pylori-positive patients (mean age 41±3 years, 15 female and 5 male) and 22
H. pylori-negative patients (mean age 41±2 years, 16 female and 6 male) based on the mucosal biopsies from antrum, corpus and fundus in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy performed for the evaluation of dyspepsia. The gallbladder (GB) was ultrasonographically evaluated pre-and postprandially for each patient (after 8 hours fasting and oral intake of 100 gr chocolate). Four parameters demonstrating the GB functions were assessed; 1) preprandial GB volume; 2) postprandial residual volume at 2 hours; 3) postprandial residual volume at 3 hours; and 4) residual volume after maximum contraction. In addition, ejection fraction of the gallbladder was calculated from the fasting and postprandial residual volumes.
Results:
The gallbladder volumes for
H. pylori-positive and -negative patients were as follows respectively; 16.34±2.17 ml and 22.78±3.14 ml for fasting GB volume; 8.24±1.65 ml and 12.22±1.93 ml for residual volume at 2 hours; 7.78±1.89 ml and 10.65±1.83 ml for residual volume at 3 hours; 8.55±1.47 ml and 12.131±1.98 ml for residual volume after maximum contraction; and 55.46%±4.84 and 56.25%±8.07 for GB injection fraction. No statistically significant difference was found between the two groups.
Conclusion:
Although the residual volumes were slightly lower in
H. pylori-positive patients compared to the
H. pylori-negative patients, no statistically significant difference was found between them. Consequently, it was found that
H. pylori didn’t alter the GB functions in our patient group.
