title: Parietal cells in the duodenal bulb and their relation to Helicobacter pylori infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Parkside Helicobacter Study Group, Central Middlesex and St Mary's Hospitals, London.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smolka
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Misiewicz
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D017506:H(+)-K(+)-Exchanging ATPase