THE INFLUENCE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION ON THE PROGRESSION OF GASTRIC-MUCOSAL ATROPHY AND OCCURRENCE OF GASTRIC-CANCER

Aim: To study the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on the prog ression of gastric mucosal atrophy and the development of gastric canc er. Patients and methods: We investigated the extension of the atrophi c area as assessed on the basis of the Kimura-Takemoto atrophic patter ns and the development of gastric cancer in a selected sample of 64 pa tients who were endoscopically followed up for more than 3 years, and who showed H. pylori infection by culture at the start of the investig ation and at some stages during the follow-up. Results: No progression of atrophy was observed in 14 patients who were H. pylori-negative at the beginning of the follow-up, whereas various degrees of expansion of the atrophic area were found in 22% of 50 positive cases. Well diff erentiated mucosal cancer was diagnosed in four patients during the fo llow-up. These patients displayed moderate to severe atrophy. At the b eginning of the follow-up, 50% of patients were H. pylori culture-posi tive, but all patients had H. pylori antibodies in their blood. Conclu sions: The results support the view that H. pylori infection influence s the development of atrophic gastritis and is related to the pathogen esis of gastric cancer.