Background/aims: Helicobacter pylori infection has a low prevalence in Crohn's disease, possibly because of sulphasalazine therapy. We investigated Helicobacter pylori seroprevalence in patients with Crohn's disease never treated with sulphasalazine in order to assess the possible role of antibiotic treatment.
Methodology: Two groups of patients with Crohn's disease (group I: subjects treated with ciprofloxacin, metronidazole or both during the last six months; Group II: subjects who were not given antibiotics during the last six months) and a control group of 30 patients with irritable bowel syndrome were considered. IgG anti-H. pylori levels were measured in all patients.
Results: Serology was positive respectively in 16.6%, 13.3% and 36.6% of cases in the three groups.
Conclusions: Our findings confirm the Helicobacter pylori infection is infrequent in Crohn's disease. Neither sulphasalazine nor antibiotics appear to play a role.