Abstract
BACKGROUND
Helicobacter pylori is regarded as an important pathogen in upper gastrointestinal diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between H. pylori infection and reflux esophagitis. Therefore, an investigation was undertaken in Korean subjects regarding the incidence of H. pylori infection, and a histopathological study of reflux esophagitis was also carried out.
METHODS
Analysis of gastric biopsy specimens was conducted for 73 patients with reflux esophagitis and 132 control subjects without reflux esophagitis. The H. pylori infection was assessed by using rapid urease test and the immunohistochemical method, and gastric mucosal morphologic change was analyzed according to the updated Sydney system.
RESULTS
The prevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly lower in patients with reflux esophagitis than in the non-reflux group. Grade of inflammation and glandular atrophy in the antrum and body were higher in patients in the non-reflux group compared with those in the reflux esophagitis group.
CONCLUSIONS
It is suggested that H. pylori infection decreases the risk of reflux esophagitis by inducing atrophic gastritis.
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