Endoscopic characteristics of flow-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori

Background and Aims: It was recently reported that low-grade gastric lympho ma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) was regressed by the eradica tion of Helicobacter pylori. The aim of this study was to confirm the effec t of H. pylori eradication on low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma and to invest igate the whitish mucosa that appeared with regression of the lesions. Methods: Forty-seven H. pylori-positive patients with low-grade gastric MAL T lymphoma were treated by using triple therapy. Biopsy specimens were hist ologically graded and B cell clonality was examined by using reverse transc ription-polymerase chain reaction before and after eradication treatment. T he relationship between the appearance of whitish mucosa and the degree of gastric gland loss was evaluated. Results: Histologic regression was observed 2 months after eradication ther apy in 42 of 47 patients. However, B cell monoclonality changed to polyclon ality in only 23 patients during the follow-up period. The appearance of wh itish mucosa in patients who showed histologic regression became more frequ ent as the degree of gastric gland loss increased (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Most low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma histologically regressed after H. pylori eradication. The appearance of whitish mucosa after histolo gic regression reflected the degree of gastric gland loss. Whitish mucosa i s an endoscopic characteristic and may be an endoscopic marker for regressi on of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma. (C) 2000 Blackwell Science Asia Pty Ltd.