title: Corpus gastritis and erosive esophagitis: a report from the Middle East.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether corpus gastritis due to Helicobacter pylori protects against erosive esophagitis in an area with high prevalence of H. pylori infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biopsies obtained from gastric corpus and antrum in 151 patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease were studied for presence of H. pylori and endoscopic evidence of gastritis. Presence and grade of esophagitis at endoscopy was recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four (36%) patients had endoscopic esophagitis. Patients with severe esophagitis (>or= grade II) less often had active gastritis (15/45 vs. 55/98; p=0.02) and had a lower density of H. pylori (p=0.0003) than those without esophagitis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active corpus gastritis due to H. pylori infection may protect against erosive esophagitis in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease in the Middle East.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraidah, Gassim, Saudi Arabia. drqaisqc@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Qais Qutub
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Contractor
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: ul Haque
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saka
authors.forename: Tasneem Qais
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Contractor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000382:microbiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012529:Saudi Arabia