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JOSÉ MARÍA PAJARES GARCÍA AN. R. ACAD. NAC. FARM.

Palabras clave: Premio Nobel Medicina.—Helicobacter pylori.—Marshall-
Warren Premio Nobel.—Premio Nobel de Medicina y Fisiología 2005.—Helicobac-
ter pylori gastritis.—Helicobacter pylori úlcera péptica.

ABSTRACT

The discovery of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastro-
duodenal diseases: The Nobel Prize 2005, deserved but delayed

The Nobel Assembly summarized the contribution of Marshall and Robin to the
medical science: «the remarkable and unexpected discovery that inflammation in
the stomach (gastritis) as well as ulceration of the stomach or duodenum (peptic
ulcer disease) is the result of an infection of the stomach caused by the bacterium
Helicobacter pylori».

The contribution of both researchers were different: Warren, pathologist,
observed the bacterium in the inflamed gastric tissue and ascribed it as causal
agent. Also, he identified the bacterium in the inflamed tissue of the gastric and
duodenal ulcer. The use of silver staining and electron-microscopy contributed to
identify the bacterium.

Marshall, gastroenterologist, obtained the bacterium culture by the use of a
suitable nutritious media. To fulfil the Koch’s postulates he self-inoculated by oral
ingestion of a Helicobacter culture resulting en acute gastritis that cured by
antibiotics. Also, he planned clinical assays to achieve efficient eradication regimes.
He discovered the rapid urease test with gastric biopsies (CLO-test) and the 14C-
urea breath test for the diagnosis.

The Hp discovery, criticized at the beginning and non-accepted by the most,
inspired and stimulated to many others to research on the injuries of the gastro-
duodenal mucosa related to Hp infection. In fact, epidemiological studies showed
20-80% prevalence of Hp in healthy people, variable in relationship to economic,
social and hygienic levels. In patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma
and lymphoma the infection achieved 80-90%. Consequently, their diagnosis
included the histology, culture, urease, urea breath test and others. Their treatment
is based on antibiotics to cure the infection.

Key words: Helicobacter pylori.—Nobel Prize in Medicine.—Marshall-Warren
Nobel Prize.—Nobel Prize in Phisiology or Medicine for 2005.—Helicobacter pylori
gastritis.—Helicobacter pylori peptic ulcer.

El 3 de octubre de 2005, la Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Insti-
tutet otorgó el Premio Nobel en Fisiología y Medicina de 2005, con-
juntamente, a Barry J. Marshall y J. Robin Warren por su descubri-
miento de: «The bacterium Helicobacter pylori and its role in gastritis
and peptic ulcer disease».

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