ASYMPTOMATIC HELICOBACTER-PYLORI GASTRITIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED SUCROSE PERMEABILITY

Our aim was to investigate whether there are changes in permeability t o sucrose in asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori gastritis. Nineteen asym ptomatic subjects with Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis with n o or mild mucosal atrophy and 19 age- and sex-matched normal controls were studied by peroral load of sucrose (100 g). The fraction of the g iven oral dose of sucrose excreted in urine was increased in subjects with Helicobacter pylori gastritis (median 0.08% versus 0.04% in contr ols). Sucrose excretion was not related to atrophy, intestinal metapla sia, or inflammation in the gastric mucosa, However, sucrose permeabil ity was related to the degree of inflammatory (neutrophil) activity, s ince moderate activity was associated with higher sucrose excretion th an mild activity (median 0.13% vs 0.07%). Asymptomatic Helicobacter py lori gastritis was associated with an increased sucrose permeability, which could be a sign of gastric mucosal leakage, This could have impl ications for the diseases and complications associated with Helicobact er pylori infection.