[Gastritis caused by Helicobacter heilmannii (Gastrospirillum hominis). Report of 3 cases]

Helicobacter heilmannii infection is rare. Its clinical picture is rather different from that caused by Helicobacter pylori: alterations in the gastric mucosa are milder and mainly located in the gastric antrum, and the frequency of erosions and ulcers is lower. It has been described in association with conditions similar to those related to H. pylori: peptic ulcer, chronic gastritis, gastric adenocarcinoma, intestinal metaplasia and MALT (mucose associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma, although the incidence is lower. We describe three cases of gastritis caused by H. heilmannii, which we consider to be of interest because of the absence of cases published in Spain. One of the cases is especially unusual because of its association with a duodenal ulcer. We also describe the main features of H.r heilmannii. Its clinical treatment is similar to that used in H. pylori, with demonstrated morphological improvement of the lesions after eradication of the infectious agent.