The histopathology of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug induced gastroduodenal damage: correlation with Helicobacter pylori, ulcers, and haemorrhagic events

Comment on Skrebinska et al. Who Could Be Blamed in the Case of Discrepant Histology and Serology Results for Helicobacter pylori Detection? Diagnostics 2022, 12, 133

In their article, Skebrinska and colleagues analysed the potential pitfalls of detecting Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) by serology, histological (Giemsa) and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. However, in the Introduction, the authors state: “…IHC is recommended only in individuals with active gastritis without H. pylori identification by histochemistry”. Although this is a widely-held view, it does not seem to hold up in view of the results of the study by Kocsmár et al., which showed that the diagnostic sensitivity of Giemsa in the absence of activity is only 33.6%, but it is 92.6% in the presence of active gastritis, which is close to the 99.4% sensitivity of IHC. Considering that chronic active gastritis with the features of H. pylori gastritis is also common in other entities, if active inflammation is present in the sample, there is a very small chance that a Giemsa-negative case will be confirmed as H. pylori-positive by IHC. Based on this, the use of IHC is more reasonable in Giemsa-negative cases with no activity in which the etiological role of H. pylori is suggested by clinical, anamnestic or other data. However, it may also be reasonable to routinely use IHC as the primary staining method instead of Giemsa.

Lymphocytic gastritis and its relationships with other gastrointestinal disorders

BACKGROUND

Lymphocytic gastritis (LyG) is a histopathologic finding of unknown clinical relevance.

AIMS

To explore the clinical epidemiology of LyG and its associations with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection, coeliac disease (CD) and microscopic colitis (MC) METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, the demographic, clinical, and histopathologic data of patients with and without LyG were compared. Between 2008 and 2020, 1.5 million patients with endoscopic biopsies of the gastroduodenal mucosa were extracted from a database. LyG diagnoses were reviewed to collect detailed information regarding its topographic distribution within the stomach. In a large subgroup of 400 000 patients, tissue samples from the colon were also available.

RESULTS

Of 1 481 336 patients, 341 had LyG with Hp and 2697 had Hp-negative LyG (with an overall prevalence of 0.21%). In patients with Hp-negative LyG, 450 (17%) had corpus-predominant LyG, 1068 antrum-predominant LyG (40%), and 1179 pangastric LyG (44%). LyG was more common in males and in subjects aged 50-70 years. There was no significant ethnic variation. Anaemia, diarrhoea, and weight loss were more common in patients with than without LyG. In 35% and 19% of patients, LyG was associated with CD and MC, respectively. All 72 patients with Hp-positive LyG and 280 of 310 patients with Hp-negative LyG with follow-up biopsies became free of LyG within a year.

CONCLUSIONS

Most cases of LyG may represent a self-limited expression, frequently associated with other GI conditions, such as Hp infection, CD, and MC. In most patients, LyG is likely to resolve within a year after its initial diagnosis.

Inflammatory Cell Numbers in the Stomach of Japanese Subjects with Endoscopically Normal Mucosa without Helicobacter pylori Infection

INTRODUCTION

Since inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes and plasma cells, normally inhabit the stomach, the border between normal and mild inflammation is difficult to visually determine using the updated Sydney system scale of gastritis. Additionally, eosinophils in the gastric mucosa must be counted to diagnose eosinophilic gastritis. We aimed to determine the normal number of inflammatory cells in patients with endoscopically normal mucosa and without Helicobacter pylori infections.

METHODS

We assessed patients aged 20-79 years, who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital between January 2010 and December 2014. Inflammatory cells were counted in 1,000 μm2 fields of pyloric and fundic gland mucosal biopsy specimens. We finally included 325 (male, n = 141; female, n = 184; average age = 49.3 years) patients without inflammation who had H. pylori-negative endoscopic results and negative histological findings interpreted based on the updated Sydney System and the Kyoto classification of gastritis.

RESULTS

The average numbers of nucleated cells were 83.3 ± 14.2 and 65.4 ± 12.6/mm2 in the pyloric and fundic gland mucosae, respectively. Inflammatory cells were significantly more abundant in the pyloric mucosa than in the fundic gland mucosa (p < 0.05). Age and sex distribution did not significantly differ. Eosinophils were absent or scanty in the gastric mucosae of both glands in all patients.

CONCLUSION

We determined the absolute values of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, in normal mucosae of pyloric and fundic glands. These findings could be important in defining gastric mucosal inflammation, including eosinophilic gastritis diagnosis.

Celiac Disease and Other Causes of Duodenitis

CONTEXT

- Patients who receive an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic examination frequently have biopsies taken from the duodenum. Accurate interpretation of duodenal biopsies is essential for patient care. Celiac disease is a common clinical concern, but pathologists need to be aware of other conditions of the duodenum that mimic celiac disease.

OBJECTIVE

- To review the normal histologic features of duodenal mucosa and describe the clinical and histologic findings in celiac disease and its mimics, listing the differentiating features of biopsies with villous atrophy and epithelial lymphocytosis.

DATA SOURCES

- The study comprises a literature review of pertinent publications as of November 30, 2016.

CONCLUSIONS

- Celiac disease is a common cause of abnormal duodenal histology. However, many of the histologic features found in the duodenal biopsy of patients with celiac disease are also present in other conditions that affect the small bowel. Diagnostic precision may be enhanced by obtaining a careful patient history and by ancillary laboratory testing, particularly for the presence of antitissue transglutaminase antibodies.

Rebamipide does not protect against naproxen-induced gastric damage: a randomized double-blind controlled trial

Background

Rebamipide is a gastroprotective agent with promising results against gastric damage induced by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The present study evaluated if rebamipide protects against naproxen-induced gastric damage in healthy volunteers. Changes in gastric PGE2 tissue concentration were also evaluated.

Methods

After a preliminary endoscopy to rule out previous gastric macroscopic damage, twenty-four healthy volunteers of both sexes were divided into 2 groups. One group received sodium naproxen 550 mg b.i.d. plus placebo for 7 days, while the other group received sodium naproxen 550 mg b.i.d. plus rebamipide 100 mg b.i.d. At the end of treatment, a new endoscopy was performed. Gastric macroscopic damage was evaluated by the Cryer score and by the modified Lanza score. The primary outcome measure of the trial was the macroscopic damage observed in each treatment group at the end of treatment. Biopsies were collected at both endoscopies for PGE2 quantification and histopathological analysis (secondary outcomes). Tissue PGE2 was quantified by ELISA. The randomization sequence was generated using 3 blocks of 8 subjects each. Volunteers and endoscopists were blind to whether they were receiving rebamipide or placebo.

Results

All recruited volunteers completed the trial. Sodium naproxen induced gastric damage in both groups. At the end of the study, median Cryer score was 4 in both groups (Difference = 0; 95%CI = −1 to 0; p = 0.728). In the placebo group, the mean tissue PGE2 concentration was 1005 ± 129 pg/mL before treatment and 241 ± 41 pg/mL after treatment (p < 0.001). In the rebamipide group, the mean tissue PGE2 concentration was 999 ± 109 pg/mL before treatment, and 168 ± 13 pg/mL after treatment (p < 0.001). There was no difference in mean tissue PGE2 between the two groups (difference = 5; 95%CI from −334.870 to 345.650; p = 0.975). No significant change was observed at the histopathological evaluation, despite the evident macroscopic damage induced by naproxen.

Conclusion

Rebamipide does not protect against naproxen-induced gastric damage in healthy volunteers.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02632812. Registered 14 December 2015.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12876-016-0472-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Evolving patterns in the diagnosis of reactive gastropathy: data from a prospective Central European multicenter study with proposal of a new histologic scoring system

Histologic examination of gastric biopsies is crucial for determining the cause of gastritis. This prospective multicenter study was undertaken to investigate different histologic parameters arguing in favor or against the diagnosis of reactive gastropathy and to correlate findings with patient's symptoms and endoscopic findings. A total of 1123 individuals aged 15-93 years participated in a prospective multicenter study (histoGERD trial). Diagnosis of Helicobacter gastritis was made following the Updated Sydney System. Diagnosis of reactive gastropathy was based upon Dixon's parameters of foveolar hyperplasia, smooth muscle fibers in the lamina propria and vasodilatation and congestion of mucosal capillaries. Including paucity of acute and chronic inflammatory cells in analysis, a new score with visual analog scales for the diagnosis of reactive gastropathy was developed. All three histologic parameters in favor of the diagnosis of reactive gastropathy were positively associated with the endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis (p < 0.001), yet negatively with Helicobacter infection (p < 0.001). In contrast, presence of acute and chronic inflammatory cells in lamina propria was positively associated with Helicobacter infection (p < 0.001), yet not with the endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis. Our score demonstrated strong association between histologic and endoscopic diagnoses (p < 0.001), yet not with patient's symptoms. In conclusion, our data prove foveolar hyperplasia, smooth muscle fibers and vasodilatation and congestion as key histologic parameters for the diagnosis of reactive gastropathy. The proposed score may enhance the diagnostic accuracy. It should be validated in future studies.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients on long-term treatment with NSAIDs reduces the severity of gastritis: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Maintenance use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is often complicated by gastropathy. In non-NSAID users, eradication of Helicobacter pylori is associated with decreased mucosal inflammation, and may halt the progression to atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, but the continuous use of NSAIDs may interfere with these processes.

GOAL

To investigate the effect of H. pylori eradication on gastric mucosal histology during long-term NSAID use, with and without gastroprotective therapy.

STUDY

Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were on long-term NSAIDs and were H. pylori-positive on serologic testing. Patients were randomly assigned to either eradication or placebo. Gastritis was assessed according to the updated Sydney classification for activity, chronic inflammation, gastric glandular atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and H. pylori density.

RESULTS

Biopsy specimens were available for histology of 305 patients. Of these, 48% were on chronic gastroprotective medication. Significant less active gastritis, inflammation, and H. pylori density was found in the eradication group compared with the placebo group in both corpus and antrum (P<0.001). In the corpus, less atrophy was found in the eradication group compared with the placebo group.

CONCLUSIONS

H. pylori eradication in patients on long-term NSAID therapy leads to healing of gastritis despite ongoing NSAID therapy.

Carbohydrate-dependent defense mechanisms against Helicobacter pylori infection

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative bacterium that infects over 50% of the world's population. This organism causes various gastric diseases such as chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. H. pylori possesses lipopolysaccharide, which shares structural similarity to Lewis blood group antigens in gastric mucosa. Such antigenic mimicry could result in immune tolerance against antigens of this pathogen. On the other hand, H. pylori colonize gastric mucosa by utilizing adhesins, which bind Lewis blood group antigen-related carbohydrates expressed on gastric epithelial cells. In chronic gastritis, lymphocytes infiltrate the lamina propria, and such infiltration is facilitated by 6-sulfo sialyl Lewis X-capped O-glycans, peripheral lymph node addressin (PNAd), on high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels. The number of HEV-like vessels increases as chronic inflammation progresses. Furthermore, PNAd formed on HEV-like vessels disappear once H. pylori is eradicated. These results indicate that PNAd plays an important role in H. pylori-associated inflammation. H. pylori barely colonizes gland mucous cell-derived mucin where alpha1,4-GlcNAc-capped O-glycans exist. In vitro experiments show that alpha1,4-GlcNAc-capped O-glycans function as a natural antibiotic to inhibit H. pylori growth. We recently identified cholesterol alpha-glucosyltransferase (CHLalphaGcT) using an expression cloning strategy and showed that this enzyme is specifically inhibited by mucin-type O-glycans like those present in deeper portions of the gastric mucosa. These findings show that a battery of carbohydrates expressed in the stomach is closely associated with pathogenesis and also prevention of H. pylori-related diseases.

[Significance of Helicobacter pylori infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with bleeding from upper part of the gastrointestinal tract]

BACKGROUND/AIM

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use are considered to be the most important risk factors having influence on the onset of bleeding gastroduodenal lesions. Whether there is an interaction between H. pylori infection and the use of NSAIDs in the development of peptic ulcer disease is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of NSAIDs use and H. pylori infection in patients presented with bleeding gastroduodenal lesions.

METHODS

During the period from January 2003 December 2003 we prospectively obtained data of all the patients (n=106) presented with signs of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. All the patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, with the endoscopy performed within 12 hours after admission. Histologic analysis was used for the detection of H. pylori infection. The NSAIDs and aspirin use data were obtained by anamnesis.

RESULTS

The results of our study revealed that the most common sources of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were duodenal (57 patients, 53.77%) and ventricular (36 patients, 33.96%) ulcers. The majority of the examined cases were associated with both H. pylori infection and NSAIDs use. A statistically significant difference among the studied groups of patients was proven.

CONCLUSION

The majority of bleeding gastroduodenal lesions were associated with the coexistance of H. pylori infection and NSAIDs use, while their independent influences were statistically less important. Eradication of H. pylori infection in patients using NSAIDs might prevent upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and reduce peptic ulcer bleeding risk.

Assessing the efficacy of famotidine and rebamipide in the treatment of gastric mucosal lesions in patients receiving long-term NSAID therapy (FORCE--famotidine or rebamipide in comparison by endoscopy)

BACKGROUND

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Helicobacter pylori infection are major causes of gastric mucosal lesions. In Japan, histamine-2 receptor antagonists are frequently prescribed, but the literature regarding their efficacy is limited. In this study, we compare the effects of famotidine and rebamipide on NSAID-associated gastric mucosal lesions using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

METHODS

This study examined 112 patients taking NSAIDs for either gastric hemorrhage or erosion. Before treatment, the patients were assessed by endoscopy. Using blind randomization, patients were divided into two groups: group F (famotidine, 20 mg/day) and group R (rebamipide, 300 mg/day). Efficacy was examined 4 weeks later using endoscopy.

RESULTS

After treatment, the Lanza score decreased significantly in group F (P < 0.001) but not in group R (P = 0.478). The change in the Lanza score in group F was significantly greater (P = 0.002) than that in group R.

CONCLUSIONS

Famotidine was superior to rebamipide in treating NSAID-associated mucosal lesions.

Mucosal acid causes gastric mucosal microcirculatory disturbance in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-treated rats

The mechanism by which nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) suppress gastric mucosal blood flow is not fully understood, although the depletion of mucosal prostaglandin E2 has been proposed as one possible explanation. We investigated the role of gastric acid on gastric mucosal blood flow in NSAID-treated rats. A rat stomach was mounted in an ex vivo chamber, and gastric mucosal blood flow was measured sequentially in a 5-mm2 area of the gastric corpus using a scanning laser Doppler perfusion image system. Results showed that diclofenac (5 mg/kg s.c.) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg s.c.) did not affect gastric mucosal blood flow, although both strongly decreased mucosal prostaglandin E2 when saline was instilled into the gastric chamber. On replacement of the saline in the chamber with 100 mM hydrochloric acid, these drugs caused a decrease in gastric mucosal blood flow levels within 30 min. The specific cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors celecoxib (50 mg/kg s.c.) and rofecoxib (25 mg/kg s.c.) did not affect mucosal prostaglandin E2 level, nor did they decrease gastric mucosal blood flow, even when hydrochloric acid was added to the chamber. Furthermore, measurement of vasoconstrictive factors present in the mucosa showed that endothelin-1 levels increased after administration of diclofenac s.c. in the presence of intragastric hydrochloric acid. This indicates that the presence of mucosal hydrochloric acid plays an important role in the NSAID-induced decrease in gastric mucosal blood flow, while the COX-1-derived basal prostaglandin E2, which is unlikely to control gastric mucosal blood flow itself, protects microcirculatory systems from mucosal hydrochloric acid.

Effect of naproxen on gastric acid secretion and gastric pH

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms for the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced inflammation in the stomach are unclear.

AIMS

To determine if naproxen (Naprosyn, Roche, Nutley, NJ, USA) alters basal acid output, pentagastrin-stimulated maximal acid output, or fasting gastrin.

METHODS

Basal acid output and maximal acid output gastric aspirations were performed pre-naproxen and 7 days post-naproxen 500 mg b.d. in 24 healthy subjects. Volume, pH and acid mEq were determined. Fasting gastrin was obtained. Comparisons were made using paired t-tests (alpha = 0.05).

RESULTS

Dosing with naproxen did not statistically decrease mean pH of the basal acid output gastric fluid (3.3 vs. 3.1; N.S.) or the pentagastrin-stimulated maximal acid output gastric fluid (2.7 vs. 2.6; N.S.). Basal acid output total volume was significantly decreased post-naproxen (84 vs. 61 mL/h; P = 0.01), with no change in maximal acid output total volume (196 vs. 188 mL/h; N.S.). Basal acid output mean gastric acidity was significantly increased post-naproxen (0.04 vs. 0.05 mEq/mL; P = 0.03), with no change in maximal acid output mean gastric acidity after naproxen (0.10 vs. 0.10; N.S.). Gastrin was not altered by dosing with naproxen.

CONCLUSIONS

Naproxen does not influence total acid secreted but does decrease basal gastric fluid volume, thereby increasing basal gastric acid concentration. These observations define one mechanism by which non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may induce gastric injury.

Association between antidepressant use and prescribing of gastric acid suppressants

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether an increased risk of gastrointestinal events is present in younger, generally healthy adults who consume antidepressants.

METHOD

We performed a retrospective cohort study using the pharmacy records of Canadian Forces (CF) members who received antidepressants between June 1997 and November 2002, excluding those taking bupropion for smoking cessation. The control cohort comprised members who received salbutamol. Changes in use of gastric acid-reducing agents (GARs) and incident GAR prescribing rates were compared pre- and postinitiation of target medications. We performed ogistic regression analyses to evaluate the effects of age, sex, and concomitant medication use on GAR prescribing.

RESULTS

A total of 8722 antidepressant exposures were identified among 5588 CF members. The control cohort consisted of 3059 people with 4154 salbutamol exposures. The number of incident GAR prescriptions decreased in both groups postexposure; however, the rate of decrease was significantly greater among salbutamol users (odds ratio 1.38; 95%CI, 1.12 to 1.71). Antidepressant users were significantly more likely to receive a new prescription for GAR following both short-term and long-term exposure (adjusted odds ratio 4.93; 95%CI, 2.66 to 9.21 and 2.83; 95%CI, 2.05 to 3.92, respectively). Antiplatelet agents, bisphosphonates, oral corticosteroids, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were significant predictors of GAR prescription.

CONCLUSION

Consistent with other reports, this study has identified that antidepressant use increases the risk for use of a gastric acid suppressant. Careful consideration should thus be made with regard to increased gastric event risk among antidepressant users.

Primer: histopathology for the clinician—how to interpret biopsy information for gastritis

Gastroenterologists can be frustrated, at times, by surgical pathology reports of gastritis that either do not match what was seen endoscopically, or do not indicate the presence of a specific disease. This might be because of one or more factors. First, it has been well established that the correlation between the endoscopic diagnosis of gastritis and histologic gastritis is poor. Second, there are a limited number of well-known histologic gastritides that yield specific diagnoses. Reports that are purely descriptive are, therefore, common, and might require discussion between endoscopist and pathologist.

Evidence-Based Recommendations for Older Adults With Helicobacter pylori or Those Using Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

Currently, about half the world's population is infected with Helicobacter pylori. This organism is known to cause peptic ulcers and places patients at higher risk for gastric cancer. Older adults are more susceptible to the negative effects of Helicobacter pylori infection. In addition, this population consumes large amounts of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and typically demonstrates a high incidence of atrophic gastritis, both of which place them at even higher risk for gastrointestinal disease. Consequently, older adults should be carefully assessed for gastrointestinal irritation, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Age-specific therapy can result in improved outcomes related to a lower incidence of nonadherence with medications, decreasing hospital admissions, lowering costs of care, and increasing quality of life.

Gastritis and carditis

Dyspepsia is a common clinical problem. Its causes include peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux, and functional (nonulcer) dyspepsia. A detailed clinical description of pain does not reliably differentiate the cause. Approximately 80% of gastroscopies are performed for the investigation of dyspepsia. "Gastritis" is diagnosed endoscopically in 59% of all stomachs, although in only 3% are the changes severe. Pathologic examination of unselected gastric biopsy specimens reveals that abnormalities are present in 62-73%, but there is only a weak correlation between endoscopic and histologic findings. For these reasons, it is recommended that endoscopic examination should always be accompanied by biopsy. Ideally, biopsies should be taken in a systematic fashion to include sampling of antrum and corpus. Recent evidence suggests that gastric infection by Helicobacter pylori initially presents as a superficial gastritis. Later it may become atrophic with development of intestinal metaplasia. The onset of atrophic changes may be related to the duration of infection, the strain of the infecting organism, associated dietary factors, or as-yet undefined host factors related to immunity. Persistent superficial gastritis predisposes to duodenal ulcer and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Atrophic gastritis predisposes to gastric ulcer and adenocarcinoma. Evidence is accumulating that in some patients, pernicious anemia may be an end result of H. pylori-induced atrophic gastritis. Reactive gastropathy is a relatively common finding in gastric biopsies; in most instances it is associated with either reflux of duodenal contents or therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Lymphocytic gastritis, eosinophilic gastritis, and the gastritis associated with Crohn's disease are distinct morphologic entities. Lymphocytic gastritis and eosinophilic gastritis have a variety of clinical associations. Carditis is a controversial topic: currently opinions are divided as to whether it is the result of gastroesophageal reflux or a proximal extension of H. pylori infection from the remainder of the stomach.