Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology

Volume 118, Issue 1, January 2000, Pages 31-35
Gastroenterology

Alimentary Tract
Helicobacter pylori infection among offspring of patients with stomach cancer,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-5085(00)70411-2Get rights and content

Abstract

Background & Aims: A positive family history is associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer. We compared the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection, a known risk factor for stomach cancer, between subjects with and without parental history of stomach cancer to evaluate a potential role of H. pylori infection in familial aggregation of stomach cancer. Methods: A total of 1351 men and women aged 30-74 years who participated in the German Health and Nutrition Survey conducted in the western part of Germany in 1987-1988 were included in the study. Detailed information on sociodemographic factors, nutritional factors, and parental history of cancer was obtained by standardized interviews. Serum samples were analyzed for immunoglobulin G antibodies against H. pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The prevalence of H. pylori infection was much higher (69%) among subjects with a parental history of stomach cancer than among other subjects (44%). This association persisted after control for potential confounders by multiple logistic regression (adjusted odds ratio, 2.7;95% confidence interval, 1.3-5.9), and was particularly strong among subjects below age 55 (adjusted odds ratio, 5.1;95% confidence interval, 1.6-16.1). Conclusions: These results suggest that familial aggregation of stomach cancer may be explained at least partly by familial clustering of H. pylori infection.

GASTROENTEROLOGY 2000;118:31-35

Section snippets

Study design

Our analysis is based on a substudy of the German National Health and Nutrition Survey that was carried out in the western part of Germany in 1987-1988 (VERA-Study, Verbundstudie Ernährungserhebung und Risikofaktoren Analytik). Details of the study design have been reported previously.13 Briefly, a 3-stage (electorial districts, households, individuals) stratified probability sample was drawn from the noninstitutionalized adult population (≥18 years) of German nationality. With a participation

Results

Overall, 39 of 1351 subjects (2.9%) reported a history of stomach cancer among either of their parents, and 291 (21.5%) subjects reported a parental history of another type of cancer.

As shown in Table 1, median age was 48 years, and 56% of subjects were female.

. Parental history of cancer and basic characteristics of study population

Empty CellHistory of cancer among parentsEmpty Cell
Empty CellStomach cancer (n = 39)Other cancer (n = 291)No cancer (n = 1021)Total (n = 1351)
Age (yr)
 Median56504748
 Interquartile range47-6641-61

Discussion

In this large population-based study, offspring of patients with stomach cancer had a clearly increased prevalence of H. pylori infection as determined by an extensively evaluated commercial IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.14 The association of a parental history of cancer with H. pylori infection among the offspring was specific for stomach cancer, and it was particularly pronounced among younger study participants. These results support the hypothesis that familial aggregation of

Acknowledgements

The authors are responsible for the content of this publication.

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    Address requests for reprints to: Hermann Brenner, M.D., Department of Epidemiology, University of Ulm, Helmholtzstrasse 22, D-89081 Ulm, Germany. fax: (49) 731-5031069.

    ☆☆

    Supported in part by the German Federal Ministry and Technology grants 704752, 704754, and 704766 and by a grant from the “Deutsche Herzhilfe.”

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