Morphological study of the gastric antral mucosa colonized by campylobacter pylori

Antral biopsies from 56 patients who underwent gastroscopy for upper gastrointestinal symptoms were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Campylobacter pylori was demonstrated in specimens from 39 patients. The bacteria were present in 3 of the 8 normal specimens and in 36 of the 48 cases with chronic gastritis. Electron microscopy showed that organisms were located deep the mucous layer in intimate relation with the luminar surface of the antral epithelium. No ultra-structural evidence was found to suggest bacterial invasion of the mucosa or phagocitic ingestion by neutrophils. Our results indicate a close correlation between active inflammation and Campylobacter pylori.