Helicobacter pylori-positive peptic ulcer patients do not adapt to aspirin.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies indicate that eradication of Helicobacter pylori might prevent peptic ulcer formation in patients treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). On the other hand, gastric adaptation after repeated exposures to aspirin (ASA) is well documented but the influence of H. pylori on this process remains to be elucidated.


OBJECTIVE
To compare gastric damage and adaptation following repeated exposures to ASA in a group of patients with H. pylori infection, before and after eradication of the bacterium, and in H. pylori-negative controls.


METHODS
Eight healthy volunteers without H. pylori infection and eight patients with duodenal ulcer (DU) history and H. pylori infection before and after H. pylori eradication were given ASA 2 g/day for a period of 14 days. Mucosal damage was evaluated by endoscopy and histology of biopsy samples. Gastric microbleeding, DNA synthesis in the gastric mucosa and mucosal expression, as well as luminal content of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFalpha) were determined on days 0, 3, 7 and 14 of the ASA course.


RESULTS
In all patients aspirin-induced gastric damage reached a maximum on day 3. In H. pylori-positive patients, this damage was maintained at a similar level up to day 14, whereas in H. pylori-negative controls and H. pylori-eradicated patients this damage significantly lessened on day 14 and was accompanied by elevated DNA synthesis as well as increased mucosal expression and luminal release of TGFalpha.
Department of Medicine B, University of Münster, Germany. jan.konturek@uni-muenster.de
J W
JW
Konturek
S J
SJ
Konturek
J
J
Stachura
W
W
Domschke
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010438:Peptic Ulcer Hemorrhage; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D006133:Growth Substances; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004247:DNA; D001241:Aspirin