ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication on reversing gastric antrum atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM). Methods Biopsy specimens obtained from gastric antrum of patients who underwent gastroscopy were examined for pathology and the status of H. pylori infection. The H. pylori infected patients who had chronic gastritis with antrum atrophy or IM were recruited and were divided into either H. pylori eradicated group (n= 48)or control (non-eradicated) group (n=38). The gastroscopic follow-up was carried out at 1 year and 5years. The specimens examined for changes of histology and reverse of gastric antrum and IM were obtained at the same site. Results The reversing rate of gastric antrum atrophy in H. pylori eradicated group was significantly higher than that in control group (37.1% vs. 12.0%). In H. pylori eradicated group, the reversing rate of gastric antrum atrophy at 5-year was significantly higher than that at 1-year, and it was higher in patients aged below 45 years than those aged above 45 years.Whereas there was no association of reversing gastric antrum atrophy with follow-up time and age in control group. However there was no difference in reversing rate of IM between two groups in 1- or 5-year follow-up and H. pylori eradication. Conclusions H. pylori eradication can not reverse the IM of gastric antrum mucosa, but it can reverse the atrophy of gastric mucosa, which is associated with follow-up time and the age of patients. Therefore, H. pylori must he eradicated as early as possible in H. pylori infected patients with gastric antrum atrophy.