VIDEO: Examining yield of H. pylori biopsies after negative tests
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C. Jonathan D. Foster, DO, FACOI, spoke with Healio about the utility of repeat Helicobacter pylori biopsies in patients with previously negative tests.
The researchers, who presented the study at the ACG Annual Scientific Meeting, assessed the rate and yield of repeat endoscopic H. pylori testing in patients who had prior negative biopsies or prior negative urea breath or stool antigen tests.
Results showed that only a small proportion of subsequent biopsies were positive for H. pylori among patients who had a prior negative biopsy. Similarly, the percentage of positive biopsies among those with negative urea breath or negative stool antigen tests was also low.
Foster, medical director of gastroenterology and advanced endoscopy at Jefferson Health New Jersey, noted that this study offered “an interesting look” at whether clinicians are perhaps performing unnecessary endoscopies as well as overutilizing resources.
“Are we making patients undergo unnecessary anesthesia as well as taking biopsies that may not be indicated? I think this is something to look for in the future,” Foster said.
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Loh J, et al. Are H. pylori biopsies warranted in patients with prior negative results? Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 22-27, 2021; Las Vegas (hybrid meeting).
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