Helicobacter pylori infection correlates with severity of reflux esophagitis: with manometry findings

The role of Helicobacter pylori infection in the development and exacerbati on of reflux esophagitis was investigated. The prevalence of Helicobacter p ylori infection, the severity of atrophic gastritis, and esophageal motilit y (determined by esophageal manometry by an infusion catheter method) were assessed in patients with mild (n = 46) and severe (n = 27) reflux esophagi tis and subjects without reflux (n = 28). Compared with the prevalence of H elicobacter pylori infection in the non-reflux group, the prevalence in the mild and severe reflux groups (60.7%, 47.8%, and 14.8%, respectively) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower. Atrophic gastritis was milder in both reflu x groups than in the non-reflux group. The degree of gastritis was also mil der in the severe reflux group than in the mild reflux group. The esophagea l sphincter pressure was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the reflux group s than in the non-reflux group, and the amplitude of primary peristalsis wa s significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the severe reflux group than in the non -reflux group. There were no significant differences between reflux patient s with and without Helicobacter pylori infection in the parameters of esoph ageal manometry. These data imply that a low prevalence of Helicobacter pyl ori infection may result in a milder grade of atrophic gastritis, and conse quently. exacerbate reflux esophagitis.