Cure of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with reflux oesophagitis treated with long term omeprazole reverses gastritis without exacerbation of reflux disease: results of a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Helicobacter pylori gastritis may progress to glandular atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, conditions that predispose to gastric cancer. Profound suppression of gastric acid is associated with increased severity of H pylori gastritis. This prospective randomised study aimed to investigate whether H pylori eradication can influence gastritis and its sequelae during long term omeprazole therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

METHODS

A total of 231 H pylori positive GORD patients who had been treated for > or =12 months with omeprazole maintenance therapy (OM) were randomised to either continuation of OM (OM only; n = 120) or OM plus a one week course of omeprazole, amoxycillin, and clarithromycin (OM triple; n = 111). Endoscopy with standardised biopsy sampling as well as symptom evaluation were performed at baseline and after one and two years. Gastritis was assessed according to the Sydney classification system for activity, inflammation, atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and H pylori density.

RESULTS

Corpus gastritis activity at entry was moderate or severe in 50% and 55% of the OM only and OM triple groups, respectively. In the OM triple group, H pylori was eradicated in 90 (88%) patients, and activity and inflammation decreased substantially in both the antrum and corpus (p<0.001, baseline v two years). Atrophic gastritis also improved in the corpus (p<0.001) but not in the antrum. In the 83 OM only patients with continuing infection, there was no change in antral and corpus gastritis activity or atrophy, but inflammation increased (p<0.01). H pylori eradication did not alter the dose of omeprazole required, or reflux symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Most H pylori positive GORD patients have a corpus predominant pangastritis during omeprazole maintenance therapy. Eradication of H pylori eliminates gastric mucosal inflammation and induces regression of corpus glandular atrophy. H pylori eradication did not worsen reflux disease or lead to a need for increased omeprazole maintenance dose. We therefore recommend eradication of H pylori in GORD patients receiving long term acid suppression.

Cytokeratin immunoreactivity of intestinal metaplasia at normal oesophagogastric junction indicates its aetiology

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cytokeratin (CK) 7 and 20 patterns are specific for long and short segments of Barrett's oesophagus but their use has not been assessed in intestinal metaplasia arising in macroscopically normal gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This study was carried out in a large prospective series of 254 patients who underwent upper endoscopy, had normal gastro-oesophageal anatomy, and who had biopsies of the antrum, fundus, cardia, GOJ, and lower oesophagus. Intestinal metaplasia of the GOJ was typed by histochemistry with high iron diamine-alcian blue staining and by immunohistochemistry using CK7 and CK20 antibodies. Results were correlated with clinical, endoscopic, and pathological data.

RESULTS

Sixty (23.6%) of our patients presenting with a normal GOJ had intestinal metaplasia. The CK7/CK20 pattern identified two groups of patients: one highly correlated with Barrett's and the other with characteristics of Helicobacter pylori gastritis. The Barrett's type CK7/CK20 pattern was related to a high frequency of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms (p<0.02) and normal endoscopic appearance of the stomach (p<0.03). In contrast, the gastric type CK7/CK20 pattern was linked to atrophic (p<0.02) or erythematous (p<0.05) appearance of the stomach (p<0.03), high frequency of H pylori infection (p<0.04), antral inflammation (p<0.006) with atrophy (p<0.02), and intestinal metaplasia (p<0.02).

CONCLUSION

In patients presenting with intestinal metaplasia in normal appearing GOJ, the cytokeratin pattern identifies two groups of patients, one with features identical to those of long segment Barrett's oesophagus and one with features seen in H pylori gastritis. These data may be used by clinicians and should result in improved endoscopic surveillance strategies targeted specifically at patients at increased risk of Barrett's oesophagus and thus cancer.

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection: noninvasive methods compared to invasive methods and evaluation of two new tests

OBJECTIVES

Current guidelines recommending Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment without performing endoscopy in certain patients highlight the importance of noninvasive tests. Our aim was to determine the accuracy of two new tests: the antigen stool test and Helicoblot 2.1 (an immunoblot used on serum) as well as the 13C urea breath test and ELISA serology in comparison to invasive tests for the pretreatment diagnosis of H. pylori infection.

METHODS

Helicobacter pylori infection was diagnosed prospectively in 104 untreated patients using eight different tests. Invasive tests included culture, urease test (CLOtest), histology, and PCR; noninvasive tests included the 13C urea breath test, IgG serology (Pyloriset EIA-G), immunoblot (Helicoblot 2.1), and antigen stool detection (Premier Platinum HpSA). A predefined gold standard based on biopsy tests was used to define H. pylori status, as well as an empirical approach.

RESULTS

There was no statistically significant difference between the different tests. The sensitivity of the noninvasive tests ranged between 88.9% and 95.6% (stool test: 88.9%, 95% CI: 82.7-95.1, and Helicoblot 2.1: 95.6%, 95% CI: 91.5-99.6) and the specificity ranged between 92.6 and 98.1% (stool test: 94.4%, 95% CI: 84.6-98.8, and Helicoblot 2.1: 92.6%, 95% CI: 91.5-96.2) when a predefined gold standard was used.

CONCLUSIONS

Most tests had sensitivities, specificities, and predictive values >90%. The noninvasive tests are accurate for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. Helicoblot 2.1 performed as well as the best ELISA kit. The HpSA is a promising direct noninvasive test that can be applied easily to evaluate H. pylori status.

[Are lymphocytic and collagenous colitis two forms of a single disease? Arguments taken from a biopsy quantitative study]

Collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis are defined by a clinicopathologic syndrome with chronic watery diarrhea, microscopic lesions of colonic biopsies, and normal barium enema and colonoscopy. A histopathological study was performed on multiple colorectal biopsies to compare 12 cases of collagenous colitis (defined by a subepithelial collagen thicker than 10 microns) and 7 cases of lymphocytic colitis (defined by a number of intraepithelial lymphocytes more than 20 per 100 epithelial cells at least in one biopsied site). The study included a semiquantitative analysis of inflammatory infiltrate in the lamina propria, crypts distortion and epithelial detachment. The number of intraepithelial lymphocytes per 100 epithelial cells was determined in surface epithelium and crypts. The subepithelial collagen thickening was studied by computerised morphometry. The intraepithelial lymphocytes, villous atrophy and thickness of the subepithelial collagen were also determined in gastric and duodenal biopsies. In collagenous colitis, the subepithelial collagenous thickness ranged from 10 to 40 microns in the colon (median 20.99 microns). In 4 cases of collagenous colitis, no thickening of the collagen plate was seen in the rectum. We found constant epithelial detachment and mucosal distortion. In lymphocytic colitis, the thickness of the subepithelial collagen ranged from 6 to 10 microns in 4 cases and was less than 6 microns in 3 cases (median 6.24 microns). The median number of intraepithelial lymphocytes in surface epithelium was 22.35 (range 18.2 to 40) in lymphocytic colitis versus 12.22 (range 4.6 to 24.4) in collagenous colitis. In conclusion, we observed an overlap of both the collagenous plate thickness and the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes in collagenous colitis and lymphocytic colitis. This result favours a unified histogenesis for these two entities.

Omeprazole-amoxycillin versus omeprazole-amoxycillin-clarithromycin in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori

AIM

To assess the effect of adding clarithromycin to the combination of omeprazole and amoxycillin for the eradication of H. pylori infection.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In an open, randomized, three-centre study 120 patients (69 men, mean age 47 years, caucasians 74%) with symptoms of dyspepsia had normal gastroscopic examination and a positive urease test. They underwent a 13C-urea breath test and received, for 14 days, either omeprazole 40 mg b.d. plus amoxycillin 750 mg b.d., or the same regimen plus clarithromycin 250 mg b.d. Compliance was assessed by returned tablet counts. H. pylori clearance at the end of treatment and eradication 4 weeks after finishing treatment were assessed by 13C-urea breath test.

RESULTS

Results are expressed according to 'all patients treated analysis', excluding patients who did not receive treatment and patients who had no final 13C-urea breath test assessment. In the groups treated with omeprazole-amoxycillin or omeprazole-amoxycillin-clarithromycin good compliance (> or = 90%) was observed in 85% vs. 76% (N.S.) of patients but 25% vs. 34% (N.S.) experienced at least one adverse event. Adverse events were minor, and no patient reported a metallic taste. Four weeks after finishing treatment eradication rates were 26% (95% CI: 15-37%) vs. 93% (95% CI: 86-99%) (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These results show that dual therapy with omeprazole plus amoxycillin achieves an unacceptably low H. pylori eradication rate. Addition of clarithromycin at low dosage (250 mg b.d.) proved to be useful, achieving a high eradication rate without increasing side-effects.

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Barrett's oesophagus: a prospective immunohistochemical study

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Barrett's oesophagus was studied prospectively. A sensitive immunohistochemical staining of H pylori was performed in oesophageal and gastric biopsies of 73 patients from a surveillance group with this condition. H pylori was detected in 11 cases of Barrett's mucosa (15%) and in 26 gastric mucosa specimens (35.6%). All cases positive in Barrett's mucosa were also positive in the stomach. In Barrett's oesophagus, H pylori was never found on specialised epithelium. The percentage of Barrett's mucosa showing inflammatory changes was similar in specimens with and without H pylori, both for chronic (81% v 79%) and acute (9% v 10%) infiltrates. These results indicate that H pylori infection does not play an aetiological role in Barrett's oesophagus and that colonisation of the metaplastic mucosa by this bacteria is related with the presence of gastric type mucosa in the oesophagus and of H pylori infection in the stomach.

Multicentre prospective controlled study of Barrett's oesophagus and colorectal adenomas. Groupe d'Etude de l'Oesophage de Barrett

Previous studies have suggested that patients with Barrett's oesophagus may be at increased risk of colorectal neoplasia, though the association is disputed. In a multicentre prospective study we compared the prevalence of colorectal adenomas in patients with Barrett's oesophagus and controls. Barrett's oesophagus patients (n = 104) had histological confirmation of columnar epithelium extending more than 3 cm above the gastro-oesophageal junction. The 537 controls were patients with symptoms suggesting irritable bowel syndrome. No participant had a personal history of colonic neoplasm. Each patient underwent colonoscopy. Histologically proven adenomas were found in 26 Barrett's patients (25%) and 75 controls (14%). Three colorectal cancers were discovered in each group. The prevalence of adenomas was greater in the Barrett's oesophagus group than in the control group (p < 0.01) but the relation became non-significant after adjustment for age and sex and control for other known risk factors by a logistic regression model (odds ratio 1.4 [0.7-2.7]). The relative risk of adenoma was significantly higher in patients older than 59 than in younger patients (2.2 [1.3-3.5]) and in men than in women (3.4 [2.0-5.7]). Other factors contributing significantly to the risk of adenoma were a family history of colorectal cancer (2.3 [1.1-4.8]), rectal bleeding (2.1 [1.1-3.9]), previous colonic investigation (0.3 [0.1-0.7]), and complete as opposed to partial colonoscopy (6.4 [0.8-48.3]). We conclude that Barrett's oesophagus is not an independent risk factor for colorectal neoplasia and, therefore, is not, in itself an indication for colorectal screening.

[Association of stomach ulcer and Helicobacter pylori. Prognostic implications]

Helicobacter pylori is known to be responsible for most cases of chronic gastritis, but its role in the outcome of gastric ulcer is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection before and after treatment of gastric ulcer, the micro-organism being untreated. The trial involved 26 patients with an acute episode of gastric ulcer, who had undergone endoscopy with biopsy of the antrum, the fundus and the ulcer rim at the initial examination and then 6 weeks and 1 year after the diagnosis. At day 0, 25 acute ulcers were associated with chronic H. pylori gastritis; one patient had neither gastritis nor H. pylori infection. The H. pylori count correlated with the activity of chronic gastritis and with the extension of intestinal metaplasia; it was not modified by the healing of gastric ulcer observed in 24/26 patients on day 360. These results confirm the existence of a close association between H. pylori, chronic gastritis and gastric ulcer. It also suggests that H. pylori is not directly involved in the healing or recurrence of gastric ulcer.

Peculiar acute toxic colitis after ingestion of colocynth: a clinicopathological study of three cases

We report three examples of toxic acute colitis which occurred after ingestion of colocynth (Citrullus colocynthis) for ritual purposes. The prominent clinical feature was dysenteric diarrhoea; colonoscopic changes included congestion and hyperaemia of the mucosa with abundant exudates but no ulceration or pseudopolyp formation. A causal relationship between colonic injury and the intake of colocynth was supported by the following features: (1) the pharmacology of the colocynth extract ingested; (2) the temporal relationship between colocynth intake and clinical onset (eight to 12 h); (3) the rapid recovery within three to six days, with normal endoscopy at day 14; (4) the absence of other possible causes for the observed patterns, except in one case, in which a concomitant intestinal infection with Clostridium perfringens Type A was discovered; (5) the specific pathological features. Colonic biopsies taken 27, 44, and 72 h after colocynth intake showed: erosions with fibrino-purulent exudate, early fibrosis of the lamina propria, hyaline thickening of the superficial epithelial basal membrane. These pathological features completely disappeared within 14 days in all three cases.

[Hepatitis caused by clometacin (Dupéran). Retrospective study of 30 cases. A model of autoimmune drug-induced hepatitis?]

Thirty cases of clometacin-induced hepatitis were retrospectively collected over a nine-year period in hepatogastroenterological units of non university, public hospitals. There was a strong female predominance (90 percent). Clometacin (Dupéran) was taken because of arthritis in 8 out of 10 cases. Administration was continuous in 85 percent of cases and median duration was 445 days. median dose was 450 mg per day. Jaundice, fatigue, and weight loss were the most frequent symptoms, but edema, ascites and palmar erythema were not uncommon. Thrombopenia (38 percent) was the most frequent hematologic abnormality. Renal failure, always with benign course, was present in 1/4 of cases. Biochemical disorders indicated hepatocellular and cholestatic hepatitis in 3/4 and 1/4 of cases respectively. Hypoprothrombinemia below 50 percent was noted in 1 out of 6 cases, and was associated with death in half cases. Gamma-globulins were increased in 80 percent of cases, with a predominant increase of IgG. Antinuclear or anti-smooth muscle antibodies were present in 60 percent of cases, whereas antimitochondrial and antimicrosomes were absent. Histopathological examination of the liver biopsy specimens obtained in 25 patients showed acute hepatitis in 8 and chronic active hepatitis with fibrosis in 17--including 6 patients with cirrhosis; there were no epidemiological, clinical (except ascites), or biochemical differences between these two groups. Four of the 7 patients tested had HLA B8 antigens; they all had chronic active hepatitis, with autoantibodies in 3 cases. Median duration of hospitalization was 21 days. Hepatitis was directly responsible for death in 3 patients; biochemical sequelae (hypergammaglobulinemia or anicteric cholestasis) were present in 8 patients, 2 of whom most likely had cirrhosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Treatment of benign gastric ulcer: a comparative clinical trial of rioprostil and ranitidine

This study is a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy, two-way, parallel group comparison of the efficacy and safety of rioprostil and ranitidine in the treatment of active gastric ulcer. Ninety-one patients with gastric ulcer are randomly allocated to treatment with either rioprostil 300 micrograms b.d., or ranitidine, 150 mg b.d. The duration of treatment is 4 weeks, or 8 weeks for the patients who are improved but not healed at 4 weeks. Clinical, endoscopic and laboratory assessments are made before treatment, and after each treatment period. Therapeutic success is defined as complete endoscopic healing of the ulcer. At the end of the treatment period, either 4 or 8 weeks, healing rates are 69% in the rioprostil group, and 66% in the ranitidine group; this difference is not significant (p = 0.86). After the first 4 weeks of treatment the healing rates are 44% and 55% in the rioprostil and ranitidine groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse effects is 22% in the rioprostil group, and 7% in the ranitidine group (p = 0.036). Diarrhoea is the most common side effect (12%), but is usually intermittent and mild. We conclude that rioprostil, 300 micrograms b.d., for up to 8 weeks is as effective as ranitidine, 150 mg b.d., in the treatment of benign gastric ulcer.

Mucin immunohistochemistry of the columnar epithelium of the oesophagus (Barrett's oesophagus)

Columnar cell lined lower oesophagus (CELLO), often considered to be a precancerous lesion, is characterized by a glandular mucosa with a predominance of sulphomucins in the specialized epithelium. This histochemical abnormality can be correlated with abnormal differentiation which may also be studied by anti-mucus antibodies (anti-M1, anti-M3, anti-SIMA, anti-LIMA). The purpose of this prospective study is to define the mucin profile in a large population of CELLO by immunohistochemistry and to compare it with the results of histochemistry. Biopsies of 79 patients with reflux oesophagitis were included. Thirty-eight had CELLO and 41 had a histologically normal cardia. Six surgical specimens of oesophageal adenocarcinomas were also included. The histochemical methods confirmed the preponderance (57.9%) of type III intestinal metaplasia (IM) found in 57.9% of cases. The immunohistochemical methods showed a similar antigenic profile of type II and III IM with positivity of anti-SIMA and anti-M3 antibodies in the goblet cells, and positivity of anti-LIMA antibodies in both the goblet and intermediate cells of the specialized epithelium. The mucus secreting cells of the oesophageal adenocarcinomas had the same immunohistochemical profile. These results are similar to those of Filipe et al. in type II and III IM surrounding gastric adenocarcinomas. Immunohistochemical methods allow us to subdivide type II and type III IM into 2 subgroups according to the positivity or negativity of the anti-LIMA antibodies in the intermediate cells. Among the 41 normal cardias in patients with reflux oesophagitis, 10 contain sulphomucin secreting cells positive with anti-LIMA antibodies. We suggest that this anti-LIMA positivity may be a step preceding type III IM in specialized epithelium.

Lymphoid follicular proctitis. A condition different from ulcerative proctitis?

A heterogeneous group is formed by patients presenting with clinical features suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease limited to the rectum and whose rectal biopsies show lymphoid follicular hyperplasia of the mucosa. All these cases are traditionally considered as one variant of chronic ulcerative colitis, so-called ulcerative proctitis. Twenty such cases were critically assessed on clinical, endoscopic, and histologic grounds, as well as on response to treatment and follow-up data. While 11 patients showed clinicopathologic features consistent with typical chronic ulcerative colitis, the other nine patients appeared to form a different group, for which the term "lymphoid follicular proctitis" seemed justified. Lymphoid follicular proctitis was, overall, characterized by rectal bleeding, a congested and granular mucosa without ulceration, abnormal and coalescing hyperplastic lymphoid follicles without acute inflammation, and failure to respond to local steroid therapy. The nature of lymphoid follicular proctitis is uncertain at present but seems unrelated to chronic ulcerative colitis.

Effectiveness of omeprazole in seven patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome resistant to histamine H2-receptor antagonists

The inhibitory effect of omeprazole, a benzimidazole derivative, on gastric acid secretion was investigated in seven patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome resistant to treatment with large doses of histamine H2-receptor antagonists administered alone or in combination with pirenzepine. In two patients with an acute form of the syndrome, rapid control of acid overproduction was achieved with 180-mg intravenous and 120-mg oral daily doses, respectively. The other five patients, who were free of complication, initially received a standard regimen of omeprazole 60 mg orally once a day; dosage was subsequently adjusted until the basal acid output, measured 1 hr before the next dose of the drug, was less than 10 mmol/hr. The initial daily dose proved to be adequate in three patients and had to be increased to 80 mg and 60 mg bid, respectively in the remaining two patients. In all patients omeprazole therapy resulted in clinical recovery and rapid healing of mucosal lesions. The seven patients have now been followed up for 4-24 months (average 15 months). The adequacy of the daily dosage was periodically reassessed by measuring basal acid output in the hour preceding the morning dose. In one patient initially treated with 180 mg/day, dosage could be reduced to 60 mg/day. In three others, who were initially controlled with 60 mg/day, dosage had to be increased during follow-up. Despite adequate control of gastric acid secretion, one patient underwent total gastrectomy and tumor resection and another died of extensive liver metastases. The five patients still receiving omeprazole remain free of symptoms and mucosal lesions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Incomplete sulphomucin-secreting intestinal metaplasia for gastric cancer. Preliminary data from a prospective study from three centres

A joint prospective long term study of gastric biopsies has been undertaken to survey intestinal metaplasia Types I, II, and III in terms of their incidence, distribution and value in the selection of high risk cancer patients. This study is based on protocols agreed between three centres for endoscopy, histological interpretation, and mucin histochemistry. The results on the first 1350 gastric biopsies examined during 1981-1982 are presented. Intestinal metaplasia was found in 267 biopsies (20%), being common in association with carcinoma (71%), less so in benign conditions such as gastric ulcer (39%), and chronic gastritis (24%), but rare in 'normal' (3%). Type I intestinal metaplasia was predominant (73%) in all the biopsies with intestinal metaplasia and was most common in benign conditions, 70% in gastric ulcer and 76% in chronic gastritis. Type III intestinal metaplasia (incomplete sulphomucin-secreting intestinal metaplasia) was recorded in only 9.8% of all the biopsies with intestinal metaplasia and had a higher incidence in carcinoma (35%), than in benign conditions (7%) (p less than 0.0001). These results suggest that intestinal metaplasia types may have different malignant potential and their identification may be useful in screening patients for early detection of cancer.

Mucin histochemistry of the columnar epithelium of the oesophagus (Barrett's oesophagus): a prospective biopsy study

Columnar epithelium-lined oesophagus (CELO) is an acquired disorder associated with a high incidence of cancer. CELO consists of three histological types of epithelium: gastric-fundic, junctional, and specialised columnar, the last resembling intestinal metaplasia of the stomach. In a previous study of CELO an incompletely differentiated variant of intestinal metaplasia secreting sulphomucins (type II B) was found. This was shown to be associated with well differentiated adenocarcinoma, as in the stomach. The purpose of this paper has been to define by histochemistry the mucin profile of CELO in 17 patients and to compare it with the mucin profile of the gastroesophageal junction in 27 patients without CELO. In CELO a specialised columnar epithelium was always found and type II B intestinal metaplasia (with sulphomucins) showed the highest incidence (53%). In normal subjects, this type of intestinal metaplasia was found in only three of 27 cases. Type II B intestinal metaplasia has often been considered as a precancerous lesion or as an equivalent of dysplasia; consequently, its high incidence in our study on CELO raises the question of whether this lesion should be considered a high risk condition for adenocarcinoma of the lower oesophagus.