The relationship between Helicobacter pylori intensity and histopathological findings in cases with chronic gastritis and duodenal ulcer.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Helicobacter pylori infection affects many people in developing countries. The inflammation it induces can cause malignant gastric lymphoma and also gastric carcinoma, depending on the intensity of inflammatory reaction, specific properties related to the strain and the host response.

METHODS

Fifty patients (35 cases with gastritis and 15 with duodenal ulcer) were included in the study. Hematoxylin-eosin paraffin sections were prepared from their endoscopic biopsies and Helicobacter pylori presence, activity of the infection, lymphoplasmacytoid cell infiltration and the degree of atrophy were determined semiquantitatively. Toludin O stain was applied to determine Helicobacter pylori intensity.

RESULTS

We found a statistically significant positive correlation of Helicobacter pylori intensity and activity of infection, lymphoplasmacytoid cell infiltration and atrophy in the 35 cases with gastritis and the relationship between Helicobacter pylori intensity and inflammatory activity was statistically significant in the 15 cases with duodenal ulcer.

CONCLUSION

As morphological characteristics are crucial for the early diagnosis and treatment of gastric malignities; histopathological confirmation of helicobacter intensity is important.