Clinical Parameters Including Serum Pepsinogen Level and Management Strategy in Patients with Gastric Low-Grade Dysplasia

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are no proper guidelines for the management of gastric low-grade dysplasia (LGD). We evaluated clinical parameters, histological results and follow-up endoscopies to find a management strategy of LGD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 590 patients with LGD, high-grade dysplasia (HGD), functional dyspepsia (FD), early or advanced gastric cancer (early gastric cancer [EGC] or advanced gastric cancer [AGC]) were consecutively enrolled. We examined the association of clinical parameters including low serum pepsinogen (PG) I/II ratio < or =3.0 with the disease phenotypes. Histological results between initial forceps-biopsy and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) specimens were compared. RESULTS: The PG I/II ratio in FD was 4.2+/-1.7, but was significantly low in LGD (2.8+/-1.6, P<0.0001). The ratio was not further decreased in the HGD, EGC, and AGC groups. In FD patients with the ratio of < or =3.0, smoking habits and high salt intake were independent risk factors for gastric dysplasia or gastric cancer. In about 11% (n=8/70) of LGD lesions, the pathologic diagnoses were upgraded to HGD or EGC after endoscopic resection. Neither serious complications nor recurrence at the primary site were found. CONCLUSIONS: It is proposed that endoscopic resection followed by endoscopic surveillance might be a beneficial strategy for patients with LGD having a PG I/II ratio of < or =3.0.