Morpho-functional comparisons in Helicobacter pylori-associated chronic atrophic gastritis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate serum pepsinogen I (PG I) and gastrin-17 (G-17) levels in patients with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-associated chronic atrophic gastritis, with reference to endoscopical Kimura-Takemoto's staging, chromoendoscopical and histological features. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 267 dyspeptic H. pylori-infected patients were examined by chromoendoscopy with biopsy sampling according to the Sydney System and according to Kimura-Takemoto's scale. Simultaneous assessment of serum pepsinogen I (PG I) and gastrin-17 (G-17) levels by enzyme immunoassay was performed. The serologic and morphologic results were compared with correlation analysis. RESULTS: There was strong reverse correlation between the stomach mucosal atrophy (antral part or corpus) and the proper serologic markers (respectively, G-17 or PG I) in H. pylori-associated chronic gastritis when gastric biopsies taken according to the Sydney System were assessed. The use of Kimura-Takemoto's scale has revealed the decrease of serum PG I levels only at 0-2 and 0-3 grades of the corpus mucosa atrophy. Probably, these results reflects the development of functional failure of the stomach corpus mucosa at late stages of atrophy when its compensatory capacity becomes insufficient. There were not any advantages in sampling biopsies for the detecting of intestinal metaplasia (IM) by the Sydney System, or by Kimura-Takemoto's scheme. The obvious concordance between histologically proven extent of IM and the number of IM foci detected by chromoendoscopy has been revealed. CONCLUSIONS: The biopsy sampling for the diagnosis of precancerous changes of the stomach mucosa after non-invasive screening of atrophic gastritis (e.g., by means of EIA) should be based preferably on the visual signs acquired via chromoendoscopy than through routine endoscopy, independently of the scheme of examination of stomach mucosa, either according to the Sydney System, or to the Kimura-Takemoto's scale.

The non-invasive diagnosis of precancerous changes of stomach mucosa.

PURPOSE: To detect the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-induced gastric precancerous lesions leading to cancer formation, and to evaluate the possibility of non-invasive screening of dyspeptic patients to identify those having high risk of gastric cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 178 consecutive H. pylori-positive dyspeptic patients after assessment of serum pepsinogen-1 (PG-1) and gastrin-17 (G-17) levels by enzyme immunoassay were examined with endoscopy and histology. The serologic and morphologic results were compared with estimating the sensitivity, specificity and prognostic values of the tests. RESULTS: There was statistically significant reverse dependence between the presence and severity of stomach mucosal atrophy (in antrum or corpus) and the proper serologic markers of stomach functional activity (G-17 or PG-1). On the other hand, the presence and the degree of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and gastric cancer did not correspond to the serum levels of G-17 or PG-1. The serologic method was quite sensitive in the diagnosis of non-atrophic and severe antral and corpus gastritis. Also, it was characterized by the high positive and negative prognostic values. Additionally, we have established the obvious advantage of the chromoendoscopy method in the diagnosis of intestinal metaplasia in the stomach epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: The assays of serum G-17 and PG-1 levels can be offered as the screening tool for atrophic gastritis. The positive serologic results require further chromoendoscopic examination with mucosal biopsy to disclose the probable progression of atrophic process with development of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia or gastric cancer.

[Clinico-morphological and molecular-genetic correlations in the stomach pathology associated with Helicobacter pylori]. / Kliniko-morfologicheskie i molekuliarno-geneticheskie sopostavleniia pri patologii zheludka, assotsiirovannoi s Helicobacter pylori.

Some clinicomorphological correlations are made in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) associated diseases of the gastroduodenal zone. Genes vacA and cagA in the H. pylori genome were revealed by PCR in stomach biopsies of infected patients and the results were compared with histological changes in the patients' mucous membrane. Specific IgG antibodies to some H. pylori antigens were detected in the serum and a comparative analysis of serological and histological data was performed. The findings suggest that H. pylori associated gastroduodenal pathology is determined by interaction between macro- and microorganisms taking account of genetic characteristics of the infective microorganism, its phenotypic variations and properties of inflammatory and immune response of the host.