Significance of Rapid Urease Test in the diagnosis of H. pylori in dyspepsia

To study the significance of Rapid urease test in the diagnosis of H. pylori as a cause of peptic ulcer disease.

The study was conducted in 250 patients with dyspepsia who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination from January 2011 until Dec. 2011. Four antral biopsy specimens were collected for histology and rapid urease test. Diagnosis of H. pylori infection was made if both or either of the tests was positive.

Of 250 patients, 129 (51.6%) were males and 121 (48.4%) were females with age above 18 years. Mean age was 39.88 ± 15.72 years. Evaluation of endoscopic results showed duodenal ulcer in 17 cases (6.8%) and gastric ulcer in 7 cases (2.8%). Normal endoscopic finding was found in 89 cases (35.6%) and disorder of gastritis and duodenitis were found in 133 cases (53.2%). 4 cases of gastric cancer were identified. H.pylori positivity was seen in total of 87 cases out of which 14 cases of duodenal ulcer, 4 cases of gastric ulcer, 26 cases with normal Endoscopic findings and 42 cases with Gastritis/duodenitis were present. And 1 case was positive with Gastric cancer. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV of rapid urease test was 94.1%, 98.8%, 97.6% and 97.0%, respectively, when compared with histopathology.

Rapid urease test has high sensitivity and specificity, and is also simple, cheap, rapid and convenient to perform. Rapid diagnosis of H. pylori by rapid urease test helps the patients in effective treatment.