[Chronic gastritis in Helicobacter heilmannii infection].

BACKGROUND

The presence of Helicobacter pylori in the gastric mucosa used to be associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer. Helicobacter heilmannii is a similar but much less frequent and less known gastric pathogen.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

We evaluated 1250 gastric biopsies. Helicobacteria were detected after silver impregnation. Helicobacter pylori was found in 62%. In 3 cases (0.24%), we found Helicobacter heilmannii. In one of the cases, also Helicobacter pylori was present. All patients had gastrointestinal symptoms and histological chronic active gastritis.

CONCLUSIONS

Helicobacter heilmannii is an uncommon pathogen which appears to be a cause of gastric inflammation. It can be differentiated from Helicobacter pylori by routine histology examination.