Abstract

Background: This study was to test whether an association exists betweenHelicobacter pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms after 20 weeks of gestation inpregnant women. Material/Methods: Pregnant women (n=103) with gestational ages between 20-41 weeks andhealthy non-pregnant women (controls, n=79) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Anti-H. PyloriIgG serum antibody was tested to establish seropositivity. The dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated by theGlasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score in the pregnant group and classified as asymptomatic (score 0), mildlysymptomatic (score 1-5), and severely symptomatic (score 6). The severity of dyspeptic symptoms was comparedin pregnant women with H. Pylori seropositivity, and pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared forH. Pylori seropositivity and prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms. The results were analyzed using Student'st, Mann-Whitney-U, and chi-square tests. Results: The prevalence of H. Pylori seropositivity was notdifferent among pregnant and non-pregnant women. The median dyspeptic scores were 5 and 4, respectively,for H. Pylori seropositive and negative pregnant women. Dyspeptic scores of H. Pylori seropositive pregnantwomen were not different from those of uninfected pregnant women. H. Pylori seropositivity did not differamong asymptomatic and mildly and severely symptomatic pregnant women. The non-pregnant women were moreoften asymptomatic than pregnant women. Conclusions: Our findings do not support any association betweenH. Pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms in late pregnancy. It seems unreasonableto screen women in late pregnancy for H. Pylori seropositivity, even if they suffer from severe dyspepticsymptoms.

Keywords: Adolescent, Antibodies, Bacterial - blood, Case-Control Studies, Dyspepsia - microbiology, Helicobacter Infections - immunology, Helicobacter pylori - immunology, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - microbiology, Prospective Studies