Parietal cells in the duodenal bulb and their relation to Helicobacter pylori infection.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence, and relation to Helicobacter pylori, of parietal cells in the duodenal bulb using a monoclonal antibody directed against H+,K(+)-ATPase (HK12.18).


METHODS
Twenty six patients with duodenal ulcer disease and 16 healthy controls were studied. H pylori status was determined by gastric histology and culture and by the 13C-urea breath test. Four biopsy specimens were taken from the duodenal bulb and stained with HK12.18. The presence/absence and number of parietal cells in the duodenal bulb were assessed blindly by a histopathologist.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of parietal cells in the duodenal bulb was 31% (13/42) and was similar in patients with duodenal ulcer and in controls, and in H pylori positive and negative subjects. The median (range) number of parietal cells in the duodenal bulb was 7.5 (4-20) parietal cells/subject, and was similar in all four groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of parietal cells in the duodenal bulb (31%) is notably higher than previously reported in endoscopic studies, and is in keeping with reports from studies on necropsy/operative specimens. There was no difference in the prevalence or number of parietal cells in the duodenal bulb between patients with duodenal ulcer and controls, regardless of H pylori status. These findings suggest that parietal cells in the duodenal bulb do not contribute to the pathogenesis of duodenal ulcer.
Harris
A W
AW
Parkside Helicobacter Study Group, Central Middlesex and St Mary's Hospitals, London.
Walker
M M
MM
Smolka
A
A
Waller
J M
JM
Baron
J H
JH
Misiewicz
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002452:Cell Count; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D017506:H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010295:Parietal Cells, Gastric / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology*
D017506:H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase