[Morphological changes in the gastric mucosa in workers with chronic mercury poisoning]

The authors studied morphologic changes in gastric lining of patients facing chronic mercuric intoxication. The examinees are former burners at metallurgic plant of Khaidarkansk mercuric enterprise. The patients demonstrated significant destruction of the superficial epithelial cells and the accumulation of Campylobacter piloridis. The parietal and zymogen cells appeared to have depressed functional activities. The cells in gastric antrum had ultrastructure characterized by vacuoles with dense filaments which could be a morphologic marker of mercuric intoxication.