TUBERCULOSIS IN RELATION TO A HISTORY OF PEPTIC-ULCER DISEASE AND TREATMENT OF GASTRIC HYPERACIDITY

Previous studies described an excess of tuberculosis among persons with a history of partial gastrectomy for the treatment of peptic ulcer disease. it is unknown if any contemporary therapies for peptic ulcer disease, such as histamine type 2 antagonists and antacids, are also associated with elevated risks of tuberculosis. A case-control study was conducted during 1988-1990 in the Seattle-King County Tuberculosis Clinic to address these questions. Self-administered questionnaires were completed by 135 cases with active tuberculosis and 380 controls. A history of daily antacid use was reported by 11 cases (8%) and 23 controls (6%), corresponding to an adjusted odds ratio of 0.9 (95% confidence interval 0.4-2.0). A history of daily histamine type 2 antagonist use was reported by nine cases (7%) and 18 controls (5%) with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.8 (95% confidence interval 0.3-2.1). Our results, while based on a relatively small number of subjects, suggest that treatment for peptic ulcer disease has no influence on the occurrence of tuberculosis.