Endoscopic and Clinical Findings in First-Degree Relatives of Duodenal Ulcer Patients and Control Subjects

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Abstract
The first-degree relatives of duodenal ulcer (DU) patients and of control probands were evaluated clinically and by gastroduodenal endoscopy for prevalence of DU. The control probands were randomly selected from a control population. Relatives (199) of 51 DU probands were interviewed and 154 of these were endoscoped. Control relatives who had been endoscoped (154) were matched with the DU relatives according to sex and age. Endoscopic evidence of present or past duodenal or pyloric ulcer was present in 20 (13.0%) of the DU relatives and in only 6 (3.9%) of the control relatives (P < 0.01). The frequency of macroscopic duodenitis and gastric erosions was also significantly higher (P < 0.05) in DU relatives than in controls. A history of epigastric pain was obtained in 54 (35.1%) of endoscoped DU relatives and in 24 (15.6%) of control relatives (P < 0.01). An increased prevalence of endoscopic evidence of DU in the first-degree relatives of DU patients was shown. The finding that duodenitis is also more prevalent in DU relatives than in controls support the view that duodenitis is linked with DU.