Immunofluorescence study of mucosal B lymphocytes in bile reflux gastritis

Intracelluar immunofluorescence staining was used to identify lymphoid cells from human gastric mucosa. Staining of serial sections for each of the five classes of immunoglobulin-containing cells revealed the presence of all classes. Their relative frequencies in the antral mucosae of 30 patients with bile reflux gastritis were 51% IgA, 16% IgM, 18.5% IgG, 2.5% IgD and 12% IgE. The mucosae of 15 control subjects showed 75% IgA, 8% IgM, 15% IgG, 1% IgD and 1% IgE and the mucosae of 30 patients with inflammatory gastritis without bile reflux revealed 67% IgA, 6.5% IgM, 22.5% IgG, 1.5% IgD and 2.5% IgE. These features suggest that allergy participates in the physiopathology of bile reflux gastritis.