ABSTRACT
We anaylize in patients from high socio economic level the histologic findings of biopsies from the gastric mucosa taken endoscopically. Patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were examined with esophagogastroduodenoscopy. In the histologic study we considered: presence of Helicobacter pylori, mucinous damage, displasia, atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Patients were divided in two groups: those who endoscocopically did not present gastric or duodenal active ulcer, gastric neoplasia or were not gastrectomized or vagotomized and those in which active gastric or duodenal ulcer was found. The first group was comprised of 1406 patients (647 women and 769 men). 57.33% (806) showed presence of Helicobacter pylori in the histologic study. Males presented higher prevalence of the bacteria (57.32% vs 42.68%, p=0.021873). Atrophys was found in 8.25% and was more frequent in patients with H. pylori (78.45% vs 21.55% p=0.0000026) / Intestinal metaplasla was found in 11.24% being related more with the presence of H.pylori (74.68% vs 25.32%, p=0.0000043). In the second group comprised of 232 patients: 192 males (82.7%) 82.75% showed presence of the bacteria. There was not a statistical difference by comparing sex and age vs presence of ulcer.
