EFFECT OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI ON ECTOPIC GASTRIC-MUCOSA OF MECKELS-DIVERTICULUM IN CHILDREN AFTER MECKELECTOMY

Ninety-two children underwent meckelectomy in our department over the 10-year period 1981-1990. All histologic speciments of Meckel's divert icula were studied, most of them retrospectively, for evidence of acti ve inflammation or ulceration in any ectopic gastric mucosa present an d specifically searching for Helicobacter pylori (HP). Thirty-eight (g roup A) were excised as being responsible for the main clinical sympto ms while 54 (group B) were resected incidentally. Ectopic gastric muco sa was found in 19 cases, 18 in the symptomatic group and 1 in the inc idental group. In the 18 cases belonging to group A histologic finding s indicating gastritis due to HP were present. Combined operative and laboratory findings in all 92 cases indicated that HP colonizes gastri c mucosa electively and leads to infection, which seems to be responsi ble for the clinical symptoms of meckelitis.