[The influence of melatonin included in the combined treatment of antichelicobaterial therapy on immunohistochemical characteristics of gastric epitheliocytes from patients with duodenal ulcer].

The study included 100 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU), 30 with chronic non-atrophic gastritis (CNAG), 30 with chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) and 12 practically healthy subjects. All patients with DU and CNAG had morphologically confirmed H. pylori infection. The patients with DU were divided into 2 groups each including age-matched subjects with endoscopically, morphologically, immunohistochemically identical characteristics. Those of group 1 underwent eradication of H. pylori by a traditional 7-day procedure including the use of omeprazole (20 mg BID), claritromycin (500 mg BID) and amoxicillin (1000 mg BID). In group 2 this scheme was supplemented by melatonin (3 mg before bedtime). Patients of group 1 continued to use omeprazole and those in group 2 omeprazole + melatonin till the end of the second month. Healthy subjects and patients with CAG served as controls. All patients underwent FGDS on weeks 2 and 4, immunohistochemical study was conducted to detect endothelin-1 and melatonin-positive cells, apoptotic activity of mucosal epitheliocytes from gastric antrum was determined before and 6 weeks after the onset of therapy. It was shown that introduction of melatonin in the scheme of eradication therapy increases efficacy of H. pylori elimination and accelerates DU cicatrization. Two-month therapy with omeprazole + melatonin more effectively normalizes immunohistochemical parameters (endothelin-1 and melatonin-positive cells) and epitheliocyte apoptotic activity, than omeprazole alone.