Esophageal Granular Cell Tumors Can Be Differentiated from Leiomyomas Using Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Objective Although esophageal granular cell tumors have been reported to present as hypoechoic tumors, we noticed that their echogenicity is similar to that of the submucosal layer. We investigated the sonographic features of esophageal granular cell tumors and the diagnostic accuracy of the features. Methods Seven patients with esophageal granular cell tumors who underwent endoscopic ultrasonography were retrospectively reviewed. Thirteen patients with esophageal leiomyoma were selected as historical control subjects. The brightness of the tumor on ultrasonography images was measured and the echogenicity was standardized according to the echogenicity of the proper muscle and submucosal layers. Ten board-certified endoscopists then independently evaluated the endoscopic pictures of the 20 patients (Test 1), as well as the endoscopic ultrasonography images together with endoscopic pictures of the same patient set (Test 2). Results The standardized echogenicity in granular cell tumors was significantly higher than that in leiomyomas. The diagnostic accuracy of the 10 evaluators using endoscopic pictures alone (Test 1) was 72.0%. The addition of endoscopic ultrasonography images (Test 2) significantly improved the accuracy to 93.0%. Conclusion The echogenicity of granular cell tumors was similar to that of the submucosal layer, and it was significantly higher than that of leiomyomas. Endoscopic ultrasonography images facilitate the accurate identification of esophageal granular cell tumors.

Lanthanum deposition corresponds to white lesions in the stomach

OBJECTIVE

Although lanthanum deposition in the stomach has been most frequently reported to occur as white lesions, no study has investigated whether the white lesions observed during esophagogastroduodenoscopy are truly lanthanum-related. Here, we retrospectively investigated the amount of lanthanum in endoscopic biopsy specimens.

METHODS

We reviewed four patients showing gastric white spots or annular whitish mucosa in the gastric white lesions (Bw) and peripheral mucosa where the white substance was not endoscopically observed (Bp) during biopsy. We also reviewed three patients with diffuse whitish mucosa and three patients with no whitish lesions. We performed scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry to quantify the lanthanum elements (wt%) in the biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

The amount of lanthanum in the Bw ranged from 0.15-0.31 wt%, whereas that of Bp was 0.00-0.13 wt%. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The amount of lanthanum in the Bw, endoscopically presented with white spots or annular whitish mucosa, was significantly higher than that of no whitish lesions (0.05-0.14 wt%, P < 0.05). The amount of lanthanum was also higher in the diffuse whitish mucosa (0.21-0.23 wt%) compared with no whitish lesions (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to reveal that pathological lanthanum deposition corresponds to the endoscopically observed white lesions in the gastric mucosa. Therefore, during esophagogastroduodenoscopy, physicians should pay attention to possible presence of white lesions in patients treated with oral lanthanum carbonate to ensure prompt identification of associated issues.

DEC205 mediates local and systemic immune responses to Helicobacter pylori infection in humans

Helicobacter pylori infections cause gastritis and affect systemic immune responses; however, no direct association between immune cells and stomach bacteria has yet been reported. The present study investigated DEC205-mediated phagocytosis of H. pylori and the role of DEC205-positive macrophages in the human gastric mucosa. DEC205 mediated phagocytosis of H. pylori was detected immunocytochemically in PMA-stimulated macrophages differentiated from NOMO1 cells. Expression of DEC205 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from H. pylori-infected patients was analyzed following stimulation with H. pylori cell lysate. We found that anti-DEC205 antibodies inhibited phagocytosis of H. pylori. The number of cells double-positive for DEC205 and CD14 in human gastric mucosa was higher in H. pylori-infected patients. DEC205-positive macrophages invaded the extracellular space between epithelial cells within gastric pits. In addition, DEC205 mRNA expression was upregulated in human PBMCs stimulated with H. pylori lysate. These findings suggest DEC205-expressing macrophages are important for recognition of H. pylori in human gastric mucosa, which affects systemic immunity.

Lanthanum Deposition in the Stomach in the Absence of Helicobacter pylori Infection

In this case report, we describe two patients who showed a diffusely whitish mucosa in the posterior wall and the lesser curvature of the gastric body. The patients were serologically- and histopathologically-negative for Helicobacter pylori. Random biopsy specimens from the stomach revealed no regenerative changes, intestinal metaplasia, and/or foveolar hyperplasia in either of the patients. Although lanthanum deposition in the gastric mucosa has been reported to occur in close association with H. pylori-associated gastritis, our patients tested negative for H. pylori. These cases suggest that lanthanum deposition presents as whitish lesions in the gastric body in H. pylori-negative patients.

Postoperative bleeding risk after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection during antithrombotic drug therapy

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The safety of gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the antithrombotic drug users remains controversial.

METHODS

Patients who underwent gastric ESD at Okayama University Hospital between March 2006 and February 2016 were enrolled. This study investigated the risk of post-ESD bleeding according to the management of the antithrombotic drugs.

RESULTS

One thousand twenty lesions (872 patients) were enrolled. In a multivariate analysis, heparin replacement (odds ratio [OR] 5.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8-14), multiple antithrombotic drug use (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.1-6.9), a resected specimen of ≥ 33 mm in diameter (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.5-5.4), Helicobacter pylori negativity (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3-3.7), and tumors located in the lower third of the stomach (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0-2.9) were significant risk factors for post-ESD bleeding, while the continuation of aspirin or cilostazol was not (OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.72-7.8). The bleeding rate of the continuation group was comparable with that of the all cessation group among single antithrombotic drug users (4.5% vs 4.4%, P = 1.0); however, the rate of the continuation group was significantly higher than that of the all cessation group among multiple antithrombotic drug users (67% vs 15%, P = 0.020).

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of post-ESD bleeding differed according to the management of the antithrombotic drugs. The gastric ESD under the cessation or continuation of aspirin or cilostazol monotherapy was acceptable. However, multiple antithrombotic drug use or heparin replacement was associated with a higher risk of post-ESD bleeding.

Multiple convex demarcation line for prediction of benign depressed gastric lesions in magnifying narrow-band imaging

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

 With magnifying narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) of the gastric mucosa, a characteristic demarcation line (DL) is occasionally found in non-cancerous depressed lesions. This DL forms multiple convex shapes along the edge of the epithelia of surrounding mucosa. We have termed this novel finding a multiple convex DL (MCDL). In this study, we clarified the prevalence of an MCDL in depressed gastric lesions detected in patients at high risk for gastric cancer and determined the diagnostic yield necessary to distinguish between cancer and non-cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 This was a post hoc analysis of a multicenter prospective trial. In total, 362 small (≤ 10 mm) depressed lesions were detected in 1353 patients. Presence or absence of a DL in target lesions was evaluated on M-NBI images. The proportion of MCDLs among lesions with a DL was evaluated.

RESULTS

Images of 347 lesions (39 cancerous and 308 non-cancerous) were evaluable. A DL was present in 252/347 lesions (73 %). When the cutoff value for the proportion of MCDLs needed to distinguish non-cancer from cancer was set at two-thirds, an MCDL was observed in 86/252 lesions (34 %). In 86 lesions with an MCDL, 83 (97 %) were non-cancerous. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of an MCDL for non-cancerous lesions were 38 %, 91 %, 97 %, and 19 %, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

 Presence of an MCDL had high specificity and positive predictive value for non-cancerous lesions. Evaluating the shape of the DL is useful for differentiation between cancer and non-cancerous lesions.

Clinical outcome of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding during antithrombotic drug therapy

BACKGROUND

The clinical outcome of patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) during antithrombotic drug therapy has not been fully investigated.

METHODS

Patients who underwent video capsule endoscopy (VCE) for the investigation of OGIB at Okayama University Hospital from January 2009 to March 2016 were enrolled. We evaluated the VCE findings, the patterns of OGIB, and the rate of rebleeding within 1 year in antithrombotic drug users and antithrombotic drug nonusers.

RESULTS

A total of 181 patients were enrolled. Among the antithrombotic drug users, the rate of VCE positivity in the patients with overt OGIB was significantly higher in comparison with patients with occult OGIB (45% versus 16%, p = 0.014), whereas there was no significant difference among the antithrombotic drug nonusers (27% versus 26%, p = 1.0). Among the antithrombotic drug users, the rate of rebleeding among the VCE-positive patients was significantly higher in comparison with the VCE-negative patients (50% versus 5.9%, p = 0.011). Moreover, among antithrombotic drug users who did not receive therapeutic intervention, the rate of rebleeding among the VCE-positive patients was significantly higher in comparison with the VCE-negative patients (75% versus 6.3%, p = 0.001). However, among the antithrombotic drug nonusers who did not receive therapeutic intervention, the rebleeding rate of the VCE-positive patients was not significantly different from that of the VCE-negative patients (20% versus 9.4%, p = 0.43).

CONCLUSION

Therapeutic intervention should be considered for patients with overt OGIB who are VCE positive and who use antithrombotic drugs due to the high risk of rebleeding.

The Usefulness of Colonoscopy for the Detection of Ileal Involvement in Intestinal Follicular Lymphoma Patients

To evaluate the usefulness of colonoscopy for the detection of ileal involvement in patients with intestinal follicular lymphoma, seventeen patients with intestinal follicular lymphoma who underwent colonoscopy and biopsy sampling from the terminal ileum were enrolled. The patients were divided into 2 groups: cases with ileal involvement (n=6) and cases without ileal involvement (n=11). Patients' clinical backgrounds were compared between the two groups. Subsequently, 10 board-certified endoscopists independently evaluated the endoscopic pictures and determined whether the ileum was involved with follicular lymphoma. Infiltration of follicular lymphoma cells were identified in 6 patients (35.3%). Cases with positive ileal involvement were diagnosed with follicular lymphoma at a younger age than were cases without ileal involvement (55.4±7.4 vs. 68.1±10.3 years, p=0.011). Macroscopically, in patients with ileal involvement, there were multiple polypoid elevations smaller than 5 mm in 4 cases, single polypoid elevation smaller than 5 mm in 1 case, and single polypoid elevation larger than 5 mm in 1 case. In patients without ileal involvement, there were no lesions in the terminal ileum in 7 cases, and multiple polypoid elevations smaller than 5 mm were seen in 4 cases. The accuracy of the macroscopic evaluation by 10 board-certified endoscopists was 68.8%. Colonoscopy is particularly recommended during the initial workup of patients with follicular lymphoma diagnosed at age ≤ 60 years. The diagnosis of ileal involvement based on morphology alone is difficult; thus, biopsy and pathologic diagnosis are required for accurate diagnosis.

Endoscopic Manifestations and Clinical Characteristics of Cytomegalovirus Infection in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

We retrospectively analyzed the cases of 14 patients (9 women, 5 men, mean age: 51.6 years) with cytomegalovirus (CMV) involvement in the esophagus, stomach, and/or duodenum diagnosed at a single center, to determine their endoscopic features and clinical backgrounds. Thirteen patients (92.9%) had hematologic disease; the other had rheumatoid arthritis. Of the former, 12 patients underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and 9 of these patients had graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) before undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). All 14 patients had been taking one or more immunosuppressive agents including cyclosporine (n=10), corticosteroids (n=9), mycophenolic acid (n=6), tacrolimus (n=3), and methotrexate (n=1). Tests for CMV antigenemia were positive in 11 patients (78.6%). EGD examinations revealed esophageal (n=3), gastric (n=9), and duodenal involvement (n=6). Macroscopically, esophageal lesions by CMV infection presented as redness (n=1), erosions (n=1), and ulcers (n=1). Gastric lesions manifested as redness (n=7), erosions (n=3), exfoliated mucosa (n=2), and verrucous erosions (n=1). Mucosal appearances in the duodenum varied: redness (n=2), ulcers (n=2), multiple erosions (n=2), single erosion (n=1), edema (n=1). CMV was detected even in the intact duodenal mucosa (n=1). In conclusion, physicians must recall the relevance of CMV infection when any mucosal alterations exist in the upper gastrointestinal tract of immunosuppressed patients.

Linked color imaging (LCI), a novel image-enhanced endoscopy technology, emphasizes the color of early gastric cancer

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

 Linked color imaging (LCI) and blue laser imaging (BLI) are novel image-enhanced endoscopy technologies with strong, unique color enhancement. We investigated the efficacy of LCI and BLI-bright compared to conventional white light imaging (WLI) by measuring the color difference between early gastric cancer lesions and the surrounding mucosa.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 Images of early gastric cancer scheduled for endoscopic submucosal dissection were captured by LCI, BLI-bright, and WLI under the same conditions. Color values of the lesion and surrounding mucosa were defined as the average of the color value in each region of interest. Color differences between the lesion and surrounding mucosa (ΔE) were examined in each mode. The color value was assessed using the CIE L*a*b* color space (CIE: Commission Internationale d'Eclairage).

RESULTS

 We collected images of 43 lesions from 42 patients. Average ΔE values with LCI, BLI-bright, and WLI were 11.02, 5.04, and 5.99, respectively. The ΔE was significantly higher with LCI than with WLI ( P  < 0.001). Limited to cases of small ΔE with WLI, the ΔE was approximately 3 times higher with LCI than with WLI (7.18 vs. 2.25). The ΔE with LCI was larger when the surrounding mucosa had severe intestinal metaplasia ( P  = 0.04). The average color value of a lesion and the surrounding mucosa differed. This value did not have a sufficient cut-off point between the lesion and surrounding mucosa to distinguish them, even with LCI.

CONCLUSION

 LCI had a larger ΔE than WLI. It may allow easy recognition and early detection of gastric cancer, even for inexperienced endoscopists.

Two electrosurgical endo-knives for endoscopic submucosal dissection of colorectal superficial neoplasms: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Few studies have directly compared endo-knives for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in humans. We compared the performances of the Mucosectom2 and SB knife Jr.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 Two trainee endoscopists performed ESD of 36 lesions in this prospective, randomized controlled trial. Mucosal incision with a 1.5-mm Dual knife and submucosal dissection using the Mucosectom2 were performed in 1 group. Mucosal incision with a 1.5-mm Dual knife and submucosal dissection with a SB knife Jr. were performed in the other group. The primary outcome was the ESD procedure time. Secondary outcomes were total procedure time, self-completion rates, and adverse events.

RESULTS

ESD time in Mucosectom2 patients was not significantly shorter than in SB knife Jr. patients (57 ± 32 min vs. 61 ± 44 min, respectively; P  = 0.94). Total procedure time in Mucosectom2 patients was not significantly shorter than in SB knife Jr. patients (81 ± 42 min vs. 82 ± 51 min, respectively; P =  0.85). The trainee self-completion rate was slightly higher in SB knife Jr. patients than in Mucosectom2 patients, although the difference was not significant (94 % vs. 100 %, respectively; P  = 0.959). Fewer hemostatic procedures using the Coagrasper were performed in Mucosectom2 patients than in SB knife Jr. patients, although the difference was not significant (0.62 vs. 0.7, respectively; P  = 0.432).

CONCLUSIONS

 Mucosectom2 and SB knife Jr. did not significantly differ in performance for colorectal ESD to safely and reliably enhance ESD. Knife selection is not as important for learning colorectal ESD as patient- and lesion-related factors.

Deterioration of duodenal lymphangiectasia after radiotherapy for gastric MALT lymphoma

A 68-year-old Japanese woman underwent radiotherapy for gastric lymphoma. Although lymphangiectasia was sparsely observed in the second portion of the duodenum before radiotherapy, the number of pinpoint white spots obviously increased after the treatment. Although the duodenal lymphangiectasia gradually progressed, the patient had no features of protein-losing enteropathy. This case highlights the importance of endoscopic observation of the duodenum after irradiation to the abdomen as radiotherapy may secondarily cause intestinal lymphangiectasia.

Pseudomelanosis duodeni:a case report

An 83-year-old Japanese man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy for screening purposes. He had a medical history of hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic myeloid leukemia, and he had been taking the following medications:ferrous citrate, furosemide, spironolactone, tolvaptan, bisoprolol, nicorandil, warfarin, nilotinib, febuxostat, esomeprazole, digestive enzyme complex, ambroxol, carbocysteine, and potassium L-aspartate. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a brownish speckled pigmentation in the duodenal bulb. Biopsy specimens from the duodenal villi revealed a brown pigment deposition, which appeared bright on scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental mapping revealed the presence of iron and sulfur in the duodenal villi. Consequently, pseudomelanosis duodeni was diagnosed based on these findings.

Evaluation of the bleeding risk with various antithrombotic therapies after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Patients receiving antithrombotic drugs have a higher risk of postoperative bleeding and thromboembolic events related to endoscopic procedures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between various antithrombotic therapies and bleeding after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) (post-ESD bleeding).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

 Among 529 consecutive gastric ESD procedures (483 patients with 579 legions), 100 patients with 121 lesions who underwent 108 procedures were on antithrombotic therapy (group A) and 382 patients with 458 lesions who underwent 421 procedures were not on antithrombotic therapy (group B). The ratio of post-ESD bleeding between the two groups and the bleeding risk related to various antithrombotic therapies were investigated.

RESULTS

Postoperative bleeding was more frequent in group A (11.1 %) than in group B (3.3 %). No thromboembolic events were reported in either group. Further investigation of antithrombotic therapies in group A demonstrated that various combinations of antithrombotic agents and heparin replacement were associated with a higher ratio of post-ESD bleeding. Multivariate analyses revealed that dual antiplatelet therapy (odds ratio [OR] 10.9, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 2.1 - 49.5; P  = 0.005) and heparin replacement (OR 34.4, 95 %CI 9.4 - 133.2; P  < 0.001) were associated with the increased risk of post-ESD bleeding. In patients on antiplatelet therapy, post-ESD bleeding tended to occur in the early postoperative period compared with patients on anticoagulant therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

 It is necessary to be cautious regarding post-ESD bleeding in patients requiring antithrombotic therapy, especially patients receiving dual antiplatelet therapy and heparin replacement. A further prospective study with a large sample will be needed to confirm these findings.

Management of early gastric cancer that meet the indication for radical lymph node dissection following endoscopic resection: a retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic resection (ER) has been widely accepted as the standard treatment for early gastric cancer (EGC). However, in patients considered to have undergone non-curative ER due to their potential risk of lymph node metastasis (LNM), additional gastrectomy is recommended. The aim of the present study was to identify EGC patients after non-curative ER at high risk of LNM.

METHODS

A total of 150 patients who had undergone ER for EGC were diagnosed as non-curative ER due to their potential risk of LNM. Clinicopathological data and clinical outcomes were examined retrospectively.

RESULTS

Additional gastrectomy with lymph node dissection was performed in 73 patients, and the remaining 77 patients were followed-up without additional gastrectomy. In patients who underwent additional gastrectomy, 8 patients had local residual tumor, and 8 patients had LNM, which were limited in the peritumoral nodes. Only lymphatic invasion (p = 0.012) was a statistically significant factor for LNM. The 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival were not significantly different between patients with and without additional gastrectomy.

CONCLUSION

Additional gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is recommended for patients who were diagnosed as non-curative ER with lymphatic invasion, and minimizing the extent of lymph node dissection may be allowed for these patients.

Actual Status of Involvement of Helicobacter pylori Infection That Developed Gastric Cancer from Group A of ABC (D) Stratification - Study of Early Gastric Cancer Cases That Underwent Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Patients who are Helicobacter pylori antibody negative and have normal pepsinogen (PG) levels (group A of ABC (D) stratification) are considered unlikely to develop gastric cancer. This study aimed to clarify the involvement (uninfection, present infection or previous infection) of H. pylori in group A patients with early gastric cancer who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) by examining their background gastric mucosa endoscopically and histologically.

METHODS

This study included 166 patients with gastric cancer who were treated by ESD. Patients were classified according to PG levels and H. pylori antibody titers. Three biopsies (greater curvature of the antrum, lesser curvature of the middle corpus and greater curvature of the middle corpus) from group A were histologically analyzed and compared with those of groups B, C, D and after eradication).

RESULTS

In group A (34 patients), 32 patients had endoscopic atrophy (group A'). Histological neutrophil activity, chronic inflammation and atrophy scores were lower in group A' than in other groups. Group A' scores were similar to those of the after eradication group.

CONCLUSION

Most of the group A patients with early gastric cancer were not uninfected with H. pylori, but had previous infections, thus carrying carcinogenic risk.

Lanthanum phosphate deposition in the gastric mucosa of patients with chronic renal failure

A 77-year-old Japanese man underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection twice over a 5-year period for the treatment of two separate early gastric cancers. He had been taking lanthanum carbonate, an orally administered phosphate binder, for 3 years. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed reddish mucosa in the greater curvature and anterior wall of the gastric angle, while granular, white deposits were also observed in some areas of this reddish mucosa. Additionally, biopsy specimens from the gastric mucosa revealed the deposition of fine, amorphous, eosinophilic material, which appeared bright on scanning electron microscopy. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed the presence of lanthanum and phosphate in these bright areas, and elemental mapping confirmed that their distribution was identical to that seen in the bright areas. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of lanthanum phosphate deposition in the gastric mucosa was determined.

Detection of Minute Duodenal Follicular Lymphoma Lesions Using Magnifying Endoscopy

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed small duodenal lesions in a 56-year-old Japanese man and a 92-year-old Japanese woman with stage IV follicular lymphoma. Magnifying endoscopy examination revealed tiny white deposits in the second duodenal portion of the former patient and slightly enlarged duodenal villi in the latter. In both cases, biopsy revealed infiltration of follicular lymphoma cells and incipient formation of neoplastic follicles. Here, we discuss the usefulness of magnifying endoscopy and narrow-band imaging for the detection of small duodenal lesions in follicular lymphoma cases.

Clinical Outcomes of Endoscopic Hemostasis in Marginal Ulcer Bleeding

The usefulness of endoscopy in marginal ulcer bleeding has rarely been studied, and the optimal method for preventing rebleeding is unclear. Here we assessed the efficacy of endoscopy in marginal ulcer bleeding and examined the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the prevention of rebleeding. A total of 28 patients with marginal ulcer bleeding (21 men, 7 women; median age 58.5 years) were treated by endoscopy. We analyzed the clinical characteristics, results of endoscopic therapy, characteristics of rebleeding patients, and relation between the use of PPIs and the duration of rebleeding. Sixteen patients had active bleeding. Initial hemostasis was achieved in all patients. There were no procedure-related adverse events. Rebleeding occurred in one patient within the first month and in 7 patients thereafter. There was a significant difference in the rebleeding rate between the patients who received a PPI and those who did not. In a multivariate analysis, the non-use of PPIs was a risk factor for rebleeding (hazard ratio, 6.22). Therapeutic endoscopy is effective in achieving hemostasis from marginal ulcer bleeding. PPIs may prevent rebleeding from marginal ulcers.

Does Helicobacter pylori Exacerbate Gastric Mucosal Injury in Users of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs? A Multicenter, Retrospective, Case-Control Study

Background/Aims

The interaction between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori remains controversial. We retrospectively investigated whether H. pylori infection exacerbates severe gastric mucosal injury among chronic NSAID users.

Methods

From January 2010 to December 2013, a total of 245 long-term NSAID (including low-dose aspirin) users who had undergone an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and had been evaluated for H. pylori infection were enrolled at Okayama University Hospital and Tsuyama Chuo Hospital. The degree of gastric mucosal injury was assessed according to the modified Lanza score (MLS). Severe gastric mucosal injury was defined as an MLS ≥4. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

In the univariate analysis, age ≥75 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 4.2), H. pylori-positivity (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.5), and the concomitant use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26 to 0.86) were significantly associated with severe gastric mucosal injury. The multivariate analysis was adjusted by age and sex and demonstrated that H. pylori-positivity (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.3) and the concomitant use of PPIs (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.99) significantly contributed to severe gastric mucosal injury.

Conclusions

H. pylori infection exacerbates severe gastric mucosal injury among chronic NSAID users.