[Association between Helicobacter pylori genotype and the severity of gastritis in infected adults]

The damaging capacity of Helicobacter pylori is variable and depends, in part, on its genetic polymorphism.

To study H pylori genes vacA, cagA and iceA and the relationship of these genotypes with the features of acute damage in chronic gastritis.

Gastric endoscopic biopsies were obtained in 75 adults for pathological study and genetic typification of H pylori by specific PCR.

In only 64 cases, complete information was available. In 53 of these, there was H pylori infection demonstrated by PCR. Twenty one percent had infection by two or more H pylori strains, vacA gene had genotypes s2/m2, s1/m1 and s1/m2 in 36, 25 and 8% of cases respectively, cagA gene was present in 49% of infected patients. iceA gene had genotypes iceA 1 ad iceA 2 in 15 and 60% of patients respectively. The presence of cagA or alleles s1/m1 and s1/m2 of vacA gene was directly correlated with polymorphonuclear infiltration and the severity of epithelial damage. The genotype s2/m2 of vacA gene was significantly associated with a milder or absent mucosal damage. No association was found between iceA alleles and the pathological features of gastritis.

Alleles of vacA and cagA genes of H pylori are associated with the severity of gastric mucosal damage.