Helicobacter pylori infection and increased nitrite synthesis in the stomach. Inflammation and atrophy connections.
BACKGROUND
We have previously shown that the nitrite content in the gastric juice of Helicobacter pylori-positive patients is significantly higher than that of H. pylori-negative patients and it decreases after eradication of H. pylori.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between the nitric oxide synthesis in the gastric lumen and histological findings.


METHODS
Eighty-five middle aged Japanese patients were studied. Four specimens, each obtained from the greater and lesser curvature of antrum and gastric body were processed for the determination of histopathological scores using the updated Sydney System. Gastric juice was collected endoscopically to determine the concentration of nitrite using a modified Griess reaction.


RESULTS
There was a significant positive correlation between the nitrite and the pH levels (r = 0.81, P < 0.001) and between the pH levels and the histopathological scores in the corpus. The gastric juice pH and concentration of the nitrite increased in patients with histological diagnosis of normal, antral-predominant gastritis, pangastritis and corpus-predominant gastritis in due order.


CONCLUSIONS
H. pylori infection effects nitric oxide synthesis in the gastric lumen which is mainly connected with hypoacidity. The gastric juice pH is one of the useful markers for corpus dominant gastritis and probably for high-risk group of gastric cancer.
Shiotani
A
A
Health Administration Center, Wakayama University, 930 Sakaedani Wakayama City, Wakayama prefecture 640-8510, Japan. shiotani@center.wakayama-u.ac.jp
Iishi
H
H
Kumamoto
M
M
Nakae
Y
Y
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry*; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000378:metabolism*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000378:metabolism*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000032:analysis*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D009573:Nitrites