Y. Urakami et al., Endoscopic characteristics of flow-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma after eradication of Helicobacter pylori, J GASTR HEP, 15(10), 2000, pp. 1113-1119
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.