[Gastric MALT lymphoma and Helicobacter pylori]

Aim of this paper is to evaluate the effects of eradicating Helicobacter pylori (Hp) on the course of low-grade gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. A total of 13 consecutive patients, 7 males and 6 females (median age 54 years) Hp-positive were included, all affected by low-grade B-cell gastric MALT lymphoma, stage I using established criteria; histologic assessment by gastric biopsies was performed. Each patient received anti-Hp therapy with standard protocol for 7 days and underwent endoscopy and histology every 3-6 months. Complete eradication was obtained in all patients (100%); on histology 9 patients showed complete regression, but in one of these lymphoma relapsing after 12 months was observed. Our findings confirm recent cooperative reports of Hp eradication rate and regression of gastric tumour (about 70%). In conclusion, the indolent clinical course of the disease justifies a first-line conservative approach with Hp eradication therapy.