[Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric adenocarcinoma and chronic gastritis]

Abstract

Aim: To describe the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, and compare it with that of patients with chronic gastritis.

Methods: Fifty-four patients with endoscopically diagnosed gastric cancer (later confirmed histologically as gastric adenocarcinoma), and 60 patients with histologic chronic gastritis were studied. Age and sex distribution was similar in both groups. At endoscopy biopsy specimens were taken from antrum and body (H&E stain, Gram stain and culture).

Results: H. pylori was found in 95% (95%CI = 86-98%) of patients with chronic gastritis, and in 41% (CI = 29-54%) of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (p < 0.001). H. pylori was present in malignant tissue in 13% (CI = 6-24%) of cases, a significant lower (p < 0.01) percentage than in the gastric antrum and body.

Conclusion: The prevalence of H. pylori infection diagnosed by microbiologic and histologic methods in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (41%) is significantly lower than in patients with chronic gastritis, its premalignant lesion. H. pylori was present less frequently in malignant tissue than in endoscopically normal mucosa.