Relationship of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection to Barrett's esophagus and gastro-esophageal reflux disease in Chinese.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship of Helicobacter pylori infection to reflux esophagitis (RE), Barrett's esophagus (BE) and gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM).


METHODS
RE, BE and gastric IM were determined by upper endoscopy. Patients were divided into 2 groups; those with squamocolumnar junction (SCJ) beyond gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) > =3 cm (group A), and those with SCJ beyond GEJ <3 cm (group B). Biopsy specimens were obtained endoscopically from just below the SCJ, gastric antrum along the greater and lesser curvature. Pathological changes and H pylori infection were determined by HE staining, Alcian blue staining and Giemsa staining.


RESULTS
The prevalence of H pylori infection was 46.93%. There was no difference in the prevalence between males and females. The prevalence of H pylori infection decreased stepwise significantly from RE grade I to III. There was no difference in the prevalence between the two groups, and between long-segment and short-segment BE. In distal stomach, prevalence of H pylori infection was significantly higher in patients with IM than those without IM.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a protective role of H pylori infection to GERD. There may be no relationship between H pylori infection of stomach and BE. H pylori infection is associated with the development of IM in the distal stomach.
Zhang
Jun
J
Department of Gastroenterology, Second Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China. jun3z@163.com
Chen
Xiao-Li
XL
Wang
Kang-Min
KM
Guo
Xiao-Dan
XD
Zuo
Ai-Li
AL
Gong
Jun
J
D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution