The effect of eradication therapy on histological changes in the gastric mucosa in patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia and Helicobacter pylori infection. Prospective randomized intervention study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Eradication therapy results in the control of gastritis. Little is known about its influence on changes in the topographic distribution and regression of specific mucosal alterations in patients with dyspepsia. Our previous study has shown the complex pathological changes in the cardia, corpus and antrum in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and NUD. To determine the effect of eradication therapy on the development of histological changes in the lower esophagus, cardia, corpus and antrum in patients with nonulcerous dyspepsia, 3 and 6 months after therapy.

METHODOLOGY

Two hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients with dyspepsia (the presence of ulcer and stomach malignancy was ruled out) and H. pylori infection were followed up in a prospective study. Every patient underwent endoscopic examination with eight biopsies taken (antrum, corpus, cardia and lower esophagus) before, and 3 and 6 months after eradication therapy (Pantoprazole 40 mg daily, Amoxycilline 1000 mg b.i.d., Clarithromycine 500 mg b.i.d.). The biopsies were stained by (H&E) and Giemsa's staining modified for H. pylori detection. The inflammation, its activity, H. pylori and other mucosal alterations were investigated semi-quantitatively and assessed according to the Sydney system.

RESULTS

In the cardia, corpus and antrum, significant decrease in chronic inflammation, and H. pylori activity (p<0.001) was found. Atrophy was insignificantly higher in the cardia (p<0.05), whereas in the corpus (p<0.05) and antrum (p<0.001) it was lower. Intestinal metaplasia remained unchanged in the cardia and in the antrum; in the corpus an insignificant decrease was found. The number of patients with foveolar hyperplasia in the cardia was higher, but this increase was not significant, in contrast to the corpus (p<0.01) and antrum (p<0.05). This was especially the case between the first and the second visit. Regression of lymphoid follicles was significant in the cardia (p<0.001) and in the antrum (p<0.01), whereas their quantity in the corpus was unchanged. In the corpus and antrum, a significant increase of chemical gastropathy between the second and third visit (p<0.001) was found. The same applied for hemorrhages found in the esophagus papillae (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Eradication therapy was closely associated with a significant decrease of inflammation activity and H. pylori infection. Chronic inflammation, mucosal atrophy and intestinal metaplasia persisted, even though their intensity was decreased, and signs of chemical gastropathy with hemorrhages in the esophageal papillae were found.