Dyspeptic complaints after 20 weeks of gestation are not related to Helicobacter pylori seropositivity.

Background: This study was to test whether an association exists between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms after 20 weeks of gestation in pregnant women.

Material/methods: Pregnant women (n=103) with gestational ages between 20-41 weeks and healthy non-pregnant women (controls, n=79) were prospectively enrolled in the study. Anti-H. pylori IgG serum antibody was tested to establish seropositivity. The dyspeptic symptoms were evaluated by the Glasgow Dyspepsia Severity Score in the pregnant group and classified as asymptomatic (score 0), mildly symptomatic (score 1-5), and severely symptomatic (score > or = 6). The severity of dyspeptic symptoms was compared in pregnant women with H. pylori seropositivity, and pregnant and non-pregnant women were compared for H. pylori seropositivity and prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms. The results were analyzed using Student's t, Mann-Whitney-U, and chi-square tests.

Results: The prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was not different 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 pregnant women were not different from those of uninfected pregnant women. H. pylori seropositivity did not differ among asymptomatic and mildly and severely symptomatic pregnant women. The non-pregnant women were more often asymptomatic than pregnant women.

Conclusions: Our findings do not support any association between H. pylori seropositivity and severity of dyspeptic symptoms in late pregnancy. It seems unreasonable to screen women in late pregnancy for H. pylori seropositivity, even if they suffer from severe dyspeptic symptoms.