title: Lymphocytic gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric lymphoma.
abstract: Lymphocytic gastritis and primary gastric lymphoma are rare conditions with unknown aetiology. It has recently been suggested that Helicobacter pylori has a role in the pathogenesis of both of them. The occurrence of lymphocytic gastritis and H pylori was studied in a series of patients with primary gastric lymphoma. The cases of primary gastric lymphomas (n = 35) diagnosed in years 1970-1993 were identified. The specimens of 22 cases contained gastric mucosa sufficiently so that the number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes, severity of gastritis, and occurrence of H pylori could be studied. Lymphocytic gastritis was detected in seven of 22 patients (32%), and in most cases both in antral and body mucosa. Atrophy of the body glands was significantly more severe in lymphocytic gastritis patients. H pylori was detected in 13 of all 22 patients (59%); two of seven lymphocytic gastritis patients (29%), and 11 of 15 (73%) of patients without lymphocytic gastritis were H pylori positive. Patients with gastric lymphoma have significantly increased prevalence of lymphocytic gastritis. Rarity of H pylori in these patients might be connected with atrophic changes in body mucosa. Further studies are needed to show the significance of lymphocytic gastritis as a precursor of gastric lymphoma.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008218:Lymphocytosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology