Objectives: To examine the upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in Australian Aborigines in central Australia; to determine if peptic ulceration occurs in this group; and to discover whether this population shares Helicobacter pylori as a risk factor for peptic ulceration.Methods: A retrospective analysis of the records of all Aboriginal patients undergoing endoscopy at a general hospital over a two-year period.Results: Eighty-five endoscopies were performed in 64 patients. Haematemesis and melaena was the indication for 24 patients (more commonly in men) and a cause was identified in 83% of these patients; varices were the cause in 17%. Pain was an indication for 25 patients (more commonly in females) and abnormalities were detected in 64%. Peptic ulceration was found in nine patients and a further 23 had gastritis or duodenitis. Cases of oesophageal, gastric and duodenal malignancy were seen, as well as late complications of simple diseases, including gastric outlet obstruction, oesophageal stricture and cholecystoduodenal fistula formation. Of 17 gastric biopsies with evidence of inflammation, H. pylori was found in 15 (88%).Conclusion: This, the first study of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in Aborigines, shows its usefulness in the investigation of their gastrointestinal complaints. Oesophageal varices were found to be an important cause of bleeding. Peptic ulceration associated with H. pylori was found to be common. (Med J Aust 1994; 160: 182-184) T he indications for and findings of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in general clinical practice are well known.' but there are no published data relating to Aboriginal subjects. We undertook a review of our experience over two years and present the findings here. MethodsA retrospective review of all gastroscopies performed on Aboriginal patients from 1 January 1991 to 31 December 1992 was undertaken from endoscopy work records. At the time of endoscopy, information was recorded on ethnicity, age, sex, indications for the procedure, endoscopic findings and whether biopsies were taken. Biopsy results were obtained from pathology records, and all slides were reviewed by one of us (C P) for the presence of spiral organisms presumed to be Helicobacter pylori. Any patient undergoing more than one endoscopy was classified according to the original indication.

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