Treatment of Helicobacter pylori in patients with lymphocytic gastritis
Niemelä, S.; Karttunen, T.J.; Kerola, T.
Hepato-Gastroenterology 48(40): 1176-1178
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0172-6390 PMID: 11490827 Document Number: 535364
Background/Aims: Lymphocytic gastritis is a subtype of chronic gastritis characterized by a marked increase in the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the gastric mucosa. Its etiology is unknown, but a proportion of these patients have Helicobacter pylori infection. The aim was to assess the significance of H. pylori treatment in lymphocytic gastritis patients. Methodology: The 10 patients with lymphocytic gastritis and either serologically or histologically diagnosed H. pylori infection were treated with a triple therapy and followed by serology and histology after 6-18 months. Results: The levels of IgG antibodies for H. pylori decreased below 50% of the pretreatment values in all patients. The maximum numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes decreased significantly (P=0.005) from the pretreatment values. Conclusions: Treatment of H. pylori infection cures lymphocytic gastritis associated with H. pylori infection. H. pylori appears to be one etiological cause of lymphocytic gastritis.