Aim: To evaluate Pronto Dry examination in patients with dyspepsia.
Methods: The study was conducted in patients with dyspepsia who underwent endoscopic examination in several endoscopic centers of several cities in Indonesia from January 2003 until April 2004. Biopsies for histopathologic examination were fixed with formalin and sent to Histopathologic Department to be analyzed and confirm the presence of H pylori infection. If H pylori was found positive, the density was calculated semi quantitatively. Histopathologic examination from gastric biopsy samples was interpreted based on the updated Sydney system classification.
Results: Of 550 patients, 309 (56%) were male and 241 (44%) were female with ages ranging from 15 to 82 years. Mean age was 44.98 +/- 14.46 years. Mean age of male patients was 44.35 +/- 13.85 years and mean age of female patients was 45.78 +/- 15.19 years. Evaluation of endoscopic results showed gastric ulcer in 36 cases (6.5%) and duodenal ulcer in 20 cases (3.6%). Normal endoscopic finding was found in 45 cases (8.2%) and minimal disorder of gastritis and duodenitis were found in 246 cases (44.7%). One case of gastric cancer was identified. Of 56 cases which were positive based on the criteria used, 39 patients were positive with Pronto Dry and 17 patients were negative with Pronto Dry. Overall sensitivity and specificity of Pronto Dry were 69.7% and 95.7% respectively. Positive predictive value was 66.1% and negative predictive value was 96.4% and overall accurate rate was 92.9%.
Conclusion: Pronto Dry seems promising as a diagnostic tool to detect H pylori more rapidly and accurately.