Histopathological findings of Helicobacter pylori infection in endoscopic antral biopsy

Abstract

The aims of this study are to investigate the presence of H. pylori in endoscopic antral biopsy and to evaluate the histopathological features in H. pylori positive biopsy specimens. One hundred sixty-six biopsy specimens obtained from antrum by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were studied. Microscopic examination was normal in eight cases and H. pylori was negative in all of these biopsy specimens. The histopathological diagnosis was nonspesific gastritis in 158 cases. Helicobacter pylori was present in 109 of the 166 (69.7%) biopsy specimens. The scores of mononuclear cells and neutrophil polymorph infiltration and the combination of these scores (inflammatory score) were significantly higher in H. pylori positive cases than in H. pylori negative cases. Lymphoid aggregates were more common in H. pylori positive cases. Lamina propria edema was less severe in H. pylori positive biopsy specimens than in H. pylori negative biopsy specimens. These results indicate that H. pylori should be searched carefully if there are histopathological findings suggesting inflammation including mononuclear cells and neutrophil polymorph infiltration in antral biopsy specimens.