BACKGROUND: H. pylori-associated gastrointestinal diseases have been widely recognized. The aim of this study was to investigate the seropositivity of H. pylori in health check-up subjects and to find out the relating factors. METHODS: From November 2004 through June 2005, total 7,676 health check-up subjects (age > or =20) responded to the self administered questionnaires. The prevalence of H. pylori was assessed by measuring anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies. RESULTS: The overall seropositivity was 56.7% in 7,676 and 1,137 (14.8%) has been found to have history of H. pylori eradication therapy. The seropositivity rate of H. pylori was 61.3% (2,653) in 4,328 subjects without history of H. pylori eradication and current gastrointestinal symptoms. Seroprevalence of H. pylori was significantly lower in 20~29 years old, female, high income and subjects from Seoul respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The seropositivity of H. pylori in 2004~2005 is found to be 61.3% in subjects without history of H. pylori eradication and current gastrointestinal symptoms. This seems to be lower than 66.9%, the seroprevalence rate in asymptomatic Korean population in the age of > or =16 years in 1998. This decrease might be caused by improvement of socioeconomic status.
Antibodies ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Social Class ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive and progressive disease caused by alpha-galactosidase A (alpha-GaL A) deficiency. We sought to assess the prevalence of unrecognized Fabry disease in dialysis-dependent patients and the efficacy of serum globotriaosylceramide (GL3) screening. METHODS: A total of 480 patients of 1,230 patients among 17 clinics were enrolled. Serum GL3 levels were measured by tandem mass spectrometry. Additionally, we studied the association between increased GL3 levels and cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, or left ventricular hypertrophy. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients had elevated serum GL3 levels. The alpha-GaL A activity was determined for the 26 patients with high GL3 levels. The mean alpha-GaL A activity was 64.6 nmol/hr/mg (reference range, 45 to 85), and no patient was identified with decreased alpha-GaL A activity. Among the group with high GL3 levels, 15 women had a alpha-GaL A genetics analysis. No point mutations were discovered among the women with high GL3 levels. No correlation was observed between serum GL3 levels and alpha-GaL A activity; the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.01352 (p = 0.9478). No significant correlation was observed between increased GL3 levels and the frequency of cardiovascular disease or cerebrovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fabry disease is very rare disease in patients with end-stage renal disease. Serum GL3 measurements as a screening method for Fabry disease showed a high false-positive rate. Thus, serum GL3 levels determined by tandem mass spectrometry may not be useful as a screening method for Fabry disease in patients with end stage renal disease.
Adult ; Aged ; Fabry Disease/blood/*diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/blood/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Renal Dialysis ; Trihexosylceramides/*blood ; alpha-Galactosidase/genetics/metabolism