RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori is known to cause antral gastritis and multifocal atrophic gastritis. In addition to its inflammatory effect, H. pylori has a direct effect on gastric mucosa. Increased epithelial proliferation, which may be an early biologic change in the development of gastric carcinoma, can be measured using silver stain for nuclear organizer regions (AgNOR). AIM: To detect the relation between H. pylori colonization and AgNOR index. METHODS: One hundred and twenty consecutive antral endoscopic biopsy specimens from patients with dyspepsia were examined for H. pylori colonization, polymorphonuclear infiltrate, mononuclear infiltrate, germinal center formation, mucus depletion and AgNOR index. RESULTS: AgNOR indices were not significantly related to grades of H. pylori colonization and chronic and active inflammation. The index increased significantly (p=0.03; ANOVA) with increasing mucin depletion. CONCLUSION: H. pylori colonization and presence of gastric antral inflammation are not related to cell proliferation activity; the latter is associated with mucin depletion.