Effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori on gastric antrum histology.

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori is a leading cause of gastritis. Some of the histological changes revert after eradication of H. pylori. There is paucity of reports from India.

AIM: To study the effect of H. pylori eradication on the histopathological changes.

METHODS

Endoscopically obtained antral biopsies from 164 consecutive H. pylori positive cases of dyspepsia were analysed before and 4 weeks after completion of treatment.

RESULTS

Treatment for H. pylori resulted in eradication of the organism as confirmed histologically in 123 out of 164 (76.22%) cases. Analysis of histopathological changes in pre and post treatment biopsies from the same patient revealed a significant reduction in neutrophils, eosinophils, chronic inflammatory cells, acute epithelial changes and regenerative foveolar hyperplasia (p < 0.001) There was no difference in these findings in cases where H. pylori eradication failed when compared with their pre-treatment biopsies (p > 0.05). Similarly the pre and post treatment biopsies revealed, no difference in frequency of intestinal metaplasia and gastric atrophy in cases where H. pylori was eradicated or persisted after treatment.

CONCLUSION

There was significant reduction in neutrophils, eosinophils, chronic inflammatory cells, acute epithelial changes and regenerative foveolar hyperplasia, following eradication of H. pylori.