Does colonization of Helicobacter pylori in the heterotopic gastric mucosa play a role in bleeding of Meckel's diverticulum?
OBJECTIVE
Helicobacter pylori is a microorganism known to colonize in gastric type of mucosa and is associated with gastritis and peptic ulceration. The aim of the study was to determine whether colonization of H pylori in heterotopic gastric mucosa plays a role in bleeding of Meckel's diverticulum.


METHODS
Histopathologic slides of patients who had undergone resection of Meckel's diverticulum in recent 5 years were reexamined for the presence of H pylori in heterotopic gastric mucosa. Polimerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used to trace the genetic material of urease gene and 16s rDNA amplifications for H pylori.


RESULTS
Thirteen of the 30 histopathologic slides of Meckel's diverticula had heterotopic gastric mucosa. Ten of the 13 patients presented with acute bleeding of the diverticula, whereas 3 of them were asymptomatic. None of the 13 gastric mucosa bearing diverticula were colonized with H pylori. PCR was unable to show any trace of genetic material for H pylori.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the role of H pylori is well established in the gastric mucosal ulceration, its presence is not essentially required to induce "heterotopic gastritis" that may result in bleeding of the Meckel's diverticulum. .
Ergün
Orkan
O
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Celik
Ahmet
A
Akarca
Ulus S
US
Sen
Teoman
T
Alkanat
Murat
M
Erdener
Ata
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002828:Choristoma / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008467:Meckel Diverticulum / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004269:DNA, Bacterial