The relationship between gastric emptying determined by the breath test and H-pylori

Background/Aims: Helicobacter pylori infection has been implicated in atrophic gastritis and gastric ulcer disease. However, the relationship between gastric emptying and Helicobacter pylori infection is still unclear. Methodology: One hundred and two consecutive patients with functional dyspepsia were enrolled in this study (53 Helicobacter pylori positive and 49 negative). Gastric emptying was determined using both the C-13-octanoic acid breath test and the paracetamol absorption test. For grading gastric atrophy, the biopsy samples and serum pepsinogen I/II ratio were used. The relationship between gastric emptying, Helicobacter pylori infection and atrophy grade was investigated. Results: There was no significant difference in all gastric emptying parameters between Helicobacter pylori positive and negative patients. However, in Helicobacter pylori positive subjects, pepsinogen I/II ratio correlated with atrophy grade, and it also correlated with all parameters of gastric emptying. Especially in the half-emptying time, an important parameter, there was significant correlation with the pepsinogen I/II ratio (R= -0.39, p < 0.01). This finding implies that gastric emptying is delayed according to the degree of gastric atrophy. Conclusions: Gastric emptying was not delayed simply according to advanced age, but according to the advance in gastric atrophy.