HISTOLOGY OF THE MUCOSA OF GASTRIC ANTRUM AND BODY BEFORE AND AFTER ERADICATION OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI

1. Helicobacter pylori status and the histology of the antral and oxyn tic mucosa were evaluated in 25 patients with duodenal ulcer treated w ith a triple schedule of furazolidone, metronidazole and amoxicillin, and in 16 patients treated only with cimethidine. 2. Before treatment, H. pylori was detected in all patients. One month after treatment wit h the antimicrobial agents, H. pylori was not found in 18 (72.0%) of 2 5 patients treated with the triple schedule. In the patients treated w ith cimethidine (N=16) the H. pylori tests continued to be positive af ter treatment. 3. Inflammatory activity and intensity of gastritis wer e significantly reduced in patients treated with the antimicrobial age nts but not in cimethidine-treated patients. Three patients who had ne gative cultures and improvement of gastritis 1 month after treatment b ecame H. pylori positive again within 2 months, with concomitant reapp earance of gastritis. 4. This study provides additional evidence that histological gastritis observed in H. pylori-positive patients with du odenal ulcer is due to the presence of the microorganism.