Invasion of campylobacter-like organisms in the duodenal mucosa in patients with active duodenal ulcer.

The ultrastructure of campylobacter-like organisms found within duodenal biopsy specimens from 7 of 24 patients (28%) with active duodenal ulcer is described. Their curved shape and variable size are similar to what has previously been reported in descriptions of light microscopies. The organisms were found at the edge of active duodenal ulcers exclusively near neutral-mucous producing antral cells, to which they can adhere. The presence of these bacteria within cells and in the intercellular fluid implies that they can penetrate through the cell membrane or through tight intercellular junctions. The occurrence of these bacteria as well as numerous polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the afflicted regions suggests that the bacteria originally described by Warren and Marshall are indeed pathogenic and that their influence on ulcer healing should be included in designing treatment protocols.