Cure of autoimmune gastritis by Helicobacter pylori eradication in a 21-year-old male.
BACKGROUND
More recent investigations have shown that in some patients Helicobacter pylori (Hp) antibodies can act as antigastric antibodies and lead to atrophic autoimmune gastritis of the oxyntic mucosa. The question thus arises as to whether this form of autoimmune gastritis can be healed by eradicating Hp.


METHODS
Case history of a 21-year-old man with active autoimmune gastritis of the oxyntic mucosa with lymphocytic infiltration of the entire lamina propria, foci of lymphocytic destruction of a number of glands, and hypertrophy of the preserved parietal cells, but no signs of Hp in the Warthin Starry stain. The search for parietal cell antibodies and intrinsic factor antibodies proved negative, while the level of the gastrin in the serum was slightly elevated. Since the presence of Hp IgG antibodies (243 U/ml) was confirmed. Hp eradication therapy was carried out.


RESULTS
15 months after Hp treatment the Hp IgG antibody titre had decreased to 11 U/ml. The autoimmune gastritis had healed, and autoaggressive inflammatory infiltrates with focal destruction of corpus glands and hypertrophy of the parietal cells were no longer detectable.


CONCLUSIONS
Autoimmune gastritis induced by Hp may possibly be cured with Hp eradication treatment; to confirm this, further controlled prospective studies are needed.
Institut für Pathologie, Klinikum Bayreuth.
M
M
Stolte
E
E
Meier
A
A
Meining
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D013454:Sulfoxides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D013454:Sulfoxides; D000658:Amoxicillin; D000077402:Pantoprazole; D017291:Clarithromycin; D009853:Omeprazole