[Helicobacter heilmannii ulceronecrotic acute gastritis: apropos of 5 cases ].

We report 5 cases of Helicobacter heilmannii associated ulceronecrotic gastritis in patients presenting with acute epigastric pain. These bacteria were known to be associated with chronic active gastritis, less severe than those associated with Helicobacter pylori. Helicobacter heilmannii appears as spiral shaped organisms larger and longer but less numerous than Helicobacter pylori. Our five patients were cured by 4 weeks treatment with proton-pomp inhibitors without antibiotics. Endoscopic control, done in 4 patients, showed a complete cure and eradication of the germ. No ulcer relapse had occurred.