Prevalência da infecção por Helicobacter pylori e das lesões precusoras do câncer gástrico em pacientes dispéticos

Endoscopic and histopathological assessment of individuals undergoing one anastomosis gastric bypass: a 2-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

There is much debate over the occurrence of biliary reflux to the gastric pouch after one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) and its potential risks.

OBJECTIVE

To assess endoscopic and histopathological findings following a standardized protocol of biopsy collection two years after OAGB.

METHODS

A historical cohort study was conducted, based on a prospectively collected database, which involved 39 participants who underwent OAGB. Participants underwent clinical evaluation and esophagogastroduodenoscopy at the time of surgery and 24 months afterward. Post-operatively, biopsy specimens in esophagogastric junction, pouch, and anastomosis were systematically collected.

RESULTS

92.3% of the participants were female and the mean age was 37 ± 8.5 years. The mean body mass index (BMI) significantly decreased from 37.6 ± 5.7 kg/m² to 27 ± 4.1 kg/m² after 2 years (p < 0.001). The mean %TWL was 27.2 ± 10.5%. The prevalence of non-erosive gastritis significantly increased from 25.6 to 51.3% (p = 0.02). Erosive gastritis significantly decreased from 28.2 to 10.3% (p = 0.04). Four cases of marginal ulcers were identified (10.3%). The commonest histopathological finding was mild inflammation in 74.3% (esophagogastric junction), 58.9% (pouch), and 71.8% (anastomosis). There was one case of focal intestinal metaplasia in each site of interest and no cases of dysplasia or severe inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a standardized protocol of post-operative biopsy collection, low rates of severe endoscopic and histopathological abnormalities were observed two years after OAGB. Nevertheless, as most patients have histologically proven inflammation, bile in the gastric pouch, and endoscopic gastritis, long-term surveillance is essential because of the uncertain risk of these abnormalities.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PRESENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI WITH INFLAMMATORY ENDOSCOPIC CHANGES IN GASTRODUODENAL MUCOSA

Background:

The influence of Helicobacter pylori (HP) in inflammatory disorders of the digestive mucosa has been the subject of several studies since socioeconomic, personal and environmental factors were implicated in the bacteria transmission.

Aim:

To correlate the inflammatory endoscopic findings with HP infection and the onset of mucosal diseases mucous of the upper digestive tract.

Method:

Comparative observational study, in which were collected data from 2247 patients who underwent upper endoscopy and biopsies for HP with urease test. The patients were divided into two groups: HP+ and HP- (control) in which endoscopic findings were observed for the following changes: esophagitis, esophageal ulcer, gastritis, erosive gastritis, gastric ulcer, bulboduodenitis, bulbar ulcer and without disease.

Results:

As for esophagitis, there was little disparity in the distribution favorable to HP+ group (HP+ =67.11% and HP- =69.89%) and esophageal ulcer (HP+ =0% and HP- =0, 21%). Gastritis was favorable to HP- group (HP+ =78.34% and HP- =73.63%), as well as erosive gastritis (HP+ = 67,11% and HP- = 64,55%), in bulboduodenitis (HP+ =1,87% and HP- 1,23%), in gastric ulcer (HP+ =2,14% and HP- =2,03%) and in the absence of alterations in the HP+ group (4.81%) with the HP- control group (6,30%), in which there was little disproportion in favor of HP- group, but without statistical significance. As for the bulbar ulcer (HP +=10.16% and HP- =4.48%), there was statistically significant (p=0.00001).

Conclusion:

There is no difference between HP+ and HP- groups in inflammatory changes in endoscopic gastroduodenal mucosa, except for the relationship between HP and bulbar ulcer.

Gastritis - facts and doubts

Introduction

Many clinicians consider chronic gastritis to be equivalent to Helicobacter pylori infection. However, it is known that there are numerous other causes of the condition.

Aim

Determination of the incidence of gastritis in patients with dyspepsia referred for diagnostic endoscopy of the upper part of the digestive tract, identification of the parts of the stomach most frequently affected by the inflammation, as well as the impact of an insufficient number of collected samples on the correct diagnosis.

Material and methods

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy due to dyspepsia was performed in 110 patients. In the course of gastroscopy two biopsy specimens were collected for histopathological examination and towards H. pylori infection from the lesser and greater curvature in the antrum 3 cm from the pyloric sphincter, in the body – 4 cm proximally to the stomach angular incisure on the lesser curvature, and in the middle of the greater curvature, as well as in the subcardiac region on the side of the lesser and greater curvature.

Results

In patients with dyspepsia H. pylori-negative chronic gastritis is more common than gastritis with accompanying H. pylori infection. Collection of too small a number of biopsy specimens results in failure to detect inflammatory changes and/or H. pylori infection, which may be limited to one part of the stomach. Biopsy specimens of gastric mucosa should be collected in compliance with the assumptions of the Sydney System. Helicobacter pylori infection in people with dyspepsia is now being reported more rarely than in the past (36%).

Conclusions

In patients with dyspepsia chronic H. pylori-negative gastritis is more common than gastritis with an accompanying H. pylori infection. Helicobacter pylori infection is not always equivalent to the presence of chronic gastritis.

Recurrence of chronic urticaria caused by reinfection by Helicobacter pylori

OBJECTIVE

To describe a case of chronic urticaria in a female adolescent associated with Helicobacter pylori infection, confirmed in two different occasions, with improvement of urticaria after the antibacterial treatment.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 13-year-old female patient sought medical care with chronic urticaria and epigastric pain unresponsive to medical treatment. Laboratorial tests for further investigation were normal except for the upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy showing moderate chronic active gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori. After specific and appropriate treatment, the patient had remission of the symptoms. A new upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to control the treatment after nine months was normal. After five years, the patient returned with recurrence of urticaria and epigastric pain. She was taking antihistamines, without any improvement. It was again submitted to screening protocol for chronic urticaria with normal results. She was submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which showed positive urease test. The patient started a new treatment for Helicobacter pylori with disappearance of chronic urticaria and epigastric pain within seven days.

COMMENTS

The reported case suggests a causal relationship between the positive diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori and the occurrence of chronic urticaria, showing the remission of symptoms after the institution of effective therapy for this agent. Chronic urticaria is a disease of complex etiology, and although controversial, there is growing evidence of Helicobacter pylori involvement with extraintestinal diseases, including chronic urticaria.

Prevalence of gastric precancerous conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Several reports of estimates for precancerous conditions for gastric adenocarcinoma can be found in the current literature. Our aim was to systematically review and estimate the prevalence of gastric precancerous conditions. Four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge and EBSCO Academic Search Complete) were searched for original manuscripts addressing the presence of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) or intestinal metaplasia (IM). Subgroup analysis was carried out on methods of diagnosis, type of population, incidence of gastric cancer, sex, Helicobacter pylori status, age and extent of conditions. Overall, 107 studies were included. The worldwide prevalence of CAG in the general population was 33% (95% confidence interval: 26-41%) when considering biopsies (n=20 912) and 24% (19-29%) if serology (n=51 886) was used, whereas IM was found in 25% (19-30%) (n=30 960). Estimates for CAG were higher in countries with a high incidence of gastric cancer (42 vs. 23%), men (32 vs. 28%), H. pylori positive (46 vs. 17%) and if aged 40 years or older (48 vs. 22%). The prevalence of extensive conditions was 16% (12-20%) for CAG and 13% (9.0-17%) for IM. When comparing countries with high versus low to moderate incidence of gastric cancer, significant differences were achieved for CAG: 27% (12-36%) versus 7.3% (5.6-9.0%). Worldwide, one-third and one-fourth of individuals may harbour CAG and IM, respectively. In countries with a high incidence of gastric cancer, the prevalence of extensive conditions may increase up to 27% and these patients represent a high-risk population to whom endoscopic surveillance should be offered according to recent guidelines.

Endoscopic findings in uninvestigated dyspepsia

Background

It is important to know the causes of dyspepsia to establish the therapeutic approach. Dyspepsia is a frequent syndrome in our country, where there are restrictions to endoscopy and high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study aimed to assess the endoscopic findings of the syndrome, in an outpatient screening clinic of a tertiary hospital in São Paulo.

Methods

Outpatients with uninvestigated dyspepsia, according to Rome III criteria, answered a dyspepsia questionnaire and underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The Rapid Urease Test was applied to fragments of the antral mucosa and epidemiological data were collected from the studied population. Organic dyspepsia findings were analyzed with different variables to verify statistically significant associations.

Results

Three hundred and six patients were included and 282 were analyzed in the study. The mean age was 44 years and women comprised 65% of the sample. Forty-five percent of the patients reported alarm symptoms. Functional dyspepsia was found in 66% of the patients (20% with normal endoscopy results and 46% with gastritis), 18% had GERD and 13% had ulcers (duodenal in 9% and gastric in 4%). Four cases of gastric adenocarcinoma were identified (1.4%), one without alarm characteristics, 1 case of adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus and 1 case of gastric lymphoma. The prevalence of H. pylori was 54% and infection, age and smoking status were associated with organic dyspepsia. The age of 48 years was indicative of alarm signs.

Conclusions

The endoscopic diagnosis of uninvestigated dyspepsia in our setting showed a predominance of functional disease, whereas cancer was an uncommon finding, despite the high prevalence of H. pylori. Organic dyspepsia was associated with infection, age and smoking status.

Qualitative analysis of anatomopathological changes of gastric mucosa due to long term therapy with proton pump inhibitors: experimental studies x clinical studies

INTRODUCTION

For a few decades the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors has had wide application in the treatment of several gastrointestinal diseases. Since then, however, several studies have called attention to the possible development of anatomical and pathological changes of gastric mucosa, resulting from the long term use of this therapeutic modality. Recent experimental and clinical studies suggest that these changes have connection not only to the development of precancerous lesions, but also of gastric tumors.

OBJECTIVE

To present a qualitative analysis of anatomical and pathological changes of gastric mucosa resulting from the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors.

METHOD

The headings used were: proton pump inhibitors, precancerous lesions and gastric neoplasms for a non systematic review of the literature, based on Medline, Lillacs and Scielo. Twelve articles were selected from clinical (9) and experimental (3) studies, for qualitative analysis of the results.

RESULTS

The gastric acid suppression by high doses of proton pump inhibitors induces hypergastrinemia and the consequent emergence of neuroendocrine tumors in animal models. Morphological changes most often found in these experimental studies were: enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia, neuroendocrine tumor, atrophy, metaplasia and adenocarcinoma. In the studies in humans, however, despite enterochromaffin-like cell hyperplasia, the other effects, neuroendocrine tumor and gastric atrophy, gastric metaplasia and or adenocarcinoma, were not identified.

CONCLUSION

Although it is not possible to say that the long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors induces the appearance or accelerates the development of gastric cancer in humans, several authors have suggested that prolonged administration of this drug could provoke the development of gastric cancer. Thus, the evidence demonstrated in the animal model as well as the large number of patients who do or will do a long-term treatment with proton pump inhibitors, justifies the maintenance of this important line of research.

Quantitation of Helicobacter pylori ureC gene and its comparison with different diagnostic techniques and gastric histopathology

Numerous diagnostic assays for Helicobacter pylori detection are available. However, these techniques have their own advantages as well as limitations. Here we tried to develop a real-time quantitative (Q) PCR assay to measure ureC copy number to detect H. pylori, based on the fact that there is only one copy of the ureC gene per bacterium. We enrolled 120 adult patients [non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) 60, peptic ulcer disease (PUD) 20, gastric cancer (GC) 40] undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. During each endoscopic examination, antral biopsies from normal region of the antrum were obtained and subjected to the following tests: RUT, culture, histopathology, H. pylori-specific ureC PCR and ureC Q-PCR. Calculation of H. pylori copy number was based on the standard curve generated using 10-fold dilutions of DNA extracted from the H. pylori control strain varying from 10(5) to 10(1) copies. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in our study population was 54% with no significant difference among disease and control population. The sensitivity of Q-PCR was found to be 100% which was highest among all diagnostic tests. The established Q-PCR is around 10 times more sensitive than the conventional PCR method. The copy number of H. pylori DNA was significantly increased when overall gastritis, H. pylori density, chronic inflammation and intestinal metaplasia were present. In summary, we developed a rapid and sensitive Q-PCR method for detecting H. pylori. This technique offers a significant improvement over other available methods for detecting H. pylori in clinical and research samples.