Ultrastructural study of the antral mucosa to determine the presence of Helicobacter pylori and its association with chronic active gastritis
Reyes Caldera, S.; Ruiz, M.E.; Matos Villalobos, M.; Guirola, E.; González, J.C.; Capozzolo, N.
G.E.N 45(4): 298-303
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0016-3503 PMID: 1726915 Document Number: 380543
We present the results of ultrastructural studies of gastric mucosa obtained through upper digestive endoscopy of eight patients with suspicious symptoms of non ulcer dyspepsia or peptic ulcer. Two were male and six female with a median age of 54 years. The urease test to determine the presence of HP and Hematoxylin-Eosin and Warthin-Starry staining techniques were practiced with the purpose of a better detection of bacteria and gastritis. We did not find any correlation between the endoscopic results and the presence of gastritis or HP. Of the 8 patients only one had negative results for HP and for Electron microscopy studies. Chronic active gastritis was seen with light microscopy in all of the cases. Three in this group presented mild focal dysplasia and one case intestinal metaplasia type IIa. The main ultrastructural findings were: a) diminished or absent microvilli underneath the bacteria; b) HP inside phagolysosomes in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells; c) in some cases, the bacteria was attached to the cell membrane; d) the cellular wall of HP contains mucopolysaccharides and up to four polar flagella; e) there are polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the epithelium. We conclude that Electron Microscopy is not a routine method for studying HP, but it constitutes a good method to study pathogenicity of the bacteria.